PRINCE2™ is a project management technique; a tool and methodology that
gives guidance on how to set-up, plan, control, and deliver projects on
time, to budget, and to the right quality, for both IT and non-IT
projects.
PRINCE was established in 1989 by CCTA (Central Computer and
Telecommunications Agency, now OGC, Office of Government Commerce).
The method was initially based on PROMPT, a project management method
created by Simpact Systems Ltd in 1975. PRINCE was launched in 1989, and
superceded PROMPT within Government projects.
The key features of PRINCE are its provision of a defined organisation
structure for the project management team, a product-based approach, a
focus on business case and dividing projects into manageable and
controllable stages.
PRINCE2™ is widely used in the private sector, in the UK and
internationally, and has become a standard used extensively by the UK
Government.
PRINCE stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments