What is the Difference Between the PRINCE2 6th vs 7th Edition?

PRINCE2 7th Edition is finally here! 

This improved version of the PRINCE2 project management qualification is in alignment with  the changes currently taking place in the world of work.

As part of an ongoing digital revolution, the rise of agile working methods have resulted in the need for the PRINCE2 methodology to evolve to stay in alignment with the modern ways that people work.

However, while the qualification itself has not drastically changed, there have been some updates reflecting the more sophisticated and technology-driven landscape that project teams must now work in.

Here’s everything you need to know about PRINCE2 7th Edition, highlighting the most evident difference to the previous edition.   

What is PRINCE2?

Firstly, PRINCE2 qualifications are highly sought after by employers for project management professionals. The PRINCE2 framework is one of the most respected  project management methods, used by organisations, big and small, around the world. 

Designed by a mix of 150 leading private and public  bodies around the world, , PRINCE2 involves a process-based method project management of PRojects IN Controlled Environments, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and successful delivery.

If you’re interested in developing your project management career, there are three PRINCE2 7th Edition qualifications you can study:

PRINCE2 Foundation 

Suitable for professionals coming into the project management world for the first time, or those interested in gaining project management as a skill, the PRINCE2 Foundation course introduces learners to the fundamental elements of the PRINCE2 management methodology.

This course has no entry requirements and provides an in-depth understanding of what the PRINCE2 framework is and how it functions. 

PRINCE2 Practitioner 

Targeting experienced project managers who have previously completed the PRINCE2 Foundation qualification (or equivalent), the PRINCE2 Practitioner course is designed to help you master the PRINCE2 methodology.

Learners will expand their knowledge and gain an advanced understanding of the 7 processes, 7 practices and 7 principles introduced during the Foundation course, while learning how to apply the framework at a strategic level.

PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner Combined  

A combination of both the Foundation and Practitioner qualifications, the PRINCE2 Combined course is perfect for those who want to complete both levels seamlessly, in one go.

As this is a combined qualification, you’ll likely be able to complete the courses quicker and with lower costs than the separate alternatives.

What’s the difference between the PRINCE2 6th & 7th Edition?

While the qualifications are similar, there are key differences in a new framework that make the 7th Edition a more enhanced and comprehensive qualification. 

1) ‘People’ placed at the centre

When the PRINCE2 6th Edition was published,  project management was relatively inflexible and placed little importance on the people involved in projects, opting for a more traditional manual approach. However, in recent years, project management has shifted significantly and people have now been identified as an integral part of the project management process.

As such, the PRINCE2 7th Edition recognises ‘people’ as a new core element, emphasising the importance of how those in project management build and sustain relationships, and how these relationships - or people - are critical to delivering successful projects. 

Successful projects require people, after all, so this enhanced qualification explores the role people play in the delivery of projects, along with how management and teams impact their progress and completion.

2) New terminology

In the new 7th Edition, the course has a slight restructure, where one of the core concepts covered in the 6th Edition qualification was ‘Themes’, in this updated version of the course it’s replaced with ‘Practices’.

This reflects the new priorities of the industry and the practical actions that need to be considered for projects, and students will learn the following project management practices:

• Business case: the value the project can bring to the organisation
• Organising: defining the project team's individual roles and responsibilities
• Plans: the steps that will be taken to develop the project plans and apply the PRINCE2 techniques
• Quality: defining the project's quality requirements, and how they will be delivered
• Risk: identifying how uncertainties can be addressed in the project’s plans and environment
• Issues: how unforeseen issues should be assessed and addressed
• Progress: how the performance of a project can be assessed and making a decision of how or whether it should continue

3) Updated Pass Marks

Perhaps one of the biggest changes with the new PRINCE2 edition are the qualifications’ updated pass marks. 

In the 6th Edition, the pass mark for both qualification levels was 55%, however, in the new PRINCE2 7th Edition, the pass mark is now 60%.
This means that for the Foundation level, students need to get at least 36/60 answers correct during their exam, whereas for the Practitioner level they need 42/70 answers correct to pass.

4) Introduction to sustainability

With the climate crisis having become one of the biggest concerns our generation faces, sustainability has rightfully taken over most, if not all parts of our lives, with organisations worldwide continuously trying to identify new sustainable ways to operate.

As a result, the 7th Edition PRINCE2 also shifts focus and introduces the concept of sustainability, as a 7th aspect for measuring a project’s performance, in order to reflect the needs of modern and innovative organisations. 

Essentially it explores how sustainability fits and should be considered throughout the project management process, reflecting that change in societal expectations for more environmentally-friendly organisations and being aware of how we impact our planet.

All in all, the PRINCE2 7th Edition updates are focused on reflecting the real-life changes and trends present in the project management profession since the publication of the previous edition. These changes help professionals stay up-to-date with the shifting demands of the industry, and only further emphasise PRINCE2’s versatility and value as one of the best project management qualifications on the market. 

Develop your project management career with a highly sought-after 100% online PRINCE2 qualification with ICS Learn today.