Part 2 -
In our first article on project management, we emphasized the importance of structured and controlled project management in the aviation industry. Building on this, we would now like to present the management products used at AviaCert that contribute to the successful implementation of our projects.
At AviaCert, we rely on the PRINCE2 method (Projects in Controlled Environments), which helps us to manage projects in a structured and efficient manner. PRINCE2 focuses on product-oriented planning and implementation, whereby each project result is viewed as a "product" that must meet clearly defined requirements.
PRINCE2 management products support the project management team in planning, controlling and monitoring the project. These may be documents, presentations, spreadsheets or other deliverables created by a software tool. They can take any form appropriate to the requirements of the project, e.g. paper, electronic, verbal or even written on an 'information radiator' on a whiteboard.
There are three types of management products in PRINCE2: baselines, reports and records. These help us to plan and manage projects and ensure their quality.
Baselines define the scope of the project and serve as a firm foundation for the project. These management products define which aspects of the project are under change control once they have been approved. These products are usually assigned a version number to clearly identify the baseline and make changes traceable. Most baseline management products are created during the pre-project and initiation phase.
Within PRINCE2, many of these baselines are part of the project initiation documentation (PID), which includes the business case, project plan, product description and project management documentation. These documents are crucial for the preparation and management of a project.
Records provide a dynamic way of documenting and monitoring project progress on an ongoing basis. These management products continuously record the current status of the project and thus support the identification and management of risks. Unlike baselines, these records are not subject to version control as they are continuously updated to reflect the latest status of the project. These records are summarized in the project log, which contains important documents such as the risk register and the project logbook.
Reports such as the project status report provide a snapshot of project progress and support well-founded decisions. They contain information on the status of the project at a specific point in time (e.g. roadmaps/schedules with milestones). PRINCE2 recommends regular reporting.
By continuously maintaining these management products depending on the project status and specific, possibly changed project requirements, we ensure that we achieve a high level of flexibility and efficiency in project management.
With our proven management products and the application of the PRINCE2 method, we ensure that all projects at AviaCert are implemented effectively and with high quality. In this way, we always meet the high requirements of our customers and ensure excellent results in every project.