Project Assurance and Support

Project Assurance
PRINCE2 separates the Project Assurance function from the Project Support function. The Project Board have responsibility and accountability for Project Assurance. Depending on the size, scope, risk and profile of the project, and their own knowledge, skills and time available, they may choose to delegate responsibility for Project Assurance to others within the organisation. However, accountability for Project Assurance rests with the Project Board and they are not able to delegate this. Project Assurance may not be delegated to the Project Manager.

Project Assurance appears in two forms:

• External Assurance to confirm that the project is following overall and corporate standards (eg the published Quality Management System, or particular accounting conventions) and the organisation will usually have an audit function already in place to check these aspects.
• Internal Assurance to verify that the project is delivering Products/Deliverables that meet the agreed Quality Criteria and that internal project standards are being followed. Internal Assurance is ultimately the responsibility of the Project Board.

Project Support
Within PRINCE2, Project Support will only exist where there is a perceived need for it. Unlike version 1 of the method, a Project Manager may well find that the Project Board see no scope for any administrative support and that any day-to-day assistance that might be needed will need to be on a “grace and favour” basis.

Where a project does warrant the appointment of a Project Support function, the individual(s) selected will report directly to the Project Manager. There is no scope for combining the Project Support and Project Assurance function as was the case in version 1.

Project Support Office
A Project Support Office might well evolve in a multi project environment, to support a number of projects. The methodology recognises the possibility of a transition from a number of Project Support Teams to a central Project Support Office where the number of projects under development warrants it. The resultant Project Support Office will be able to provide a centre of expertise for all project management aspects within the organisation/site, delivering an internal consultancy service where required by Project Board members, Project Managers and project team members.

Related posts:

1. PRINCE2 Organisation & Team
2. PRINCE2 Processes, Components and Techniques