PRINCE2® vs. Scrum: Two Project Management Approaches in Comparison

The type of project management is of crucial importance for the success of a project, regardless of its size or complexity. In recent years, various project management approaches have evolved to meet ever-changing requirements. Two popular methodologies that are much discussed in the project management community are PRINCE2® and Scrum. In this article, we will compare both approaches and discuss their differences as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages.

PRINCE2®:

PRINCE2® (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a process-based approach based on best practices developed by the UK Cabinet Office from the analysis of projects. The goal was to provide a comprehensive framework for project management that can be used to manage complex projects with many stakeholders. To this end, PRINCE2® provides a structured approach consisting of seven processes, seven themes and seven principles. It emphasizes the importance of clearly defining roles and responsibilities, planning, and risk management.

Scrum: 

Scrum is an agile project management approach that focuses on flexibility and iterative development. It is based on the concept of rather smaller self-organized teams working in short time intervals called sprints. Scrum uses a list of requirements called a product backlog, and team members select those requirements to work on during each sprint. Scrum allows for quick adjustments to changing requirements and emphasizes continuous communication, such as in Daily Scrum, and collaboration within the team.

Differences between PRINCE2® and Scrum:

1. Project scope and adaptability: PRINCE2® is suitable for large-scale projects that require detailed and long-term planning. Scrum, on the other hand, is better suited for projects where the scope may change over time and flexibility is required.

2. Structure vs. agility: PRINCE2® provides a structured approach with clear roles and processes. Scrum, on the other hand, is more flexible and encourages self-organized teams and quick adaptations but also has some clearly defined roles that need to be filled in the team, such as the Scrum Master or Product Owner.
3. Scalability: PRINCE2® can be scaled to large, complex projects by coordinating multiple teams. Scrum was originally developed for smaller teams, but can be applied to larger projects through frameworks such as "Scrum of Scrums".

When is what suitable?

PRINCE2® and Scrum are two different project management approaches with their own strengths and weaknesses. PRINCE2® is well suited for projects with clear requirements and a high level of control and documentation. Scrum, on the other hand, is suitable for projects where requirements may change over time and a high degree of flexibility is required.

The choice between the two depends on the requirements of the project and the preferences of the project team.

In some cases, hybrid approaches can also be used, where PRINCE2® and Scrum are combined to take advantage of both approaches. This allows for structured planning and control through PRINCE2®, while Scrum provides flexibility and agility in implementation.