The Seven Principles
The principles are the guiding obligations that make a project a genuine PRINCE2 project. They are universal, self-validating and empowering, and unless all seven are applied the project is not being run with PRINCE2. This chapter defines each principle and how it shapes behaviour.
Continued business justification and learn from experience
Every PRINCE2 project must have a documented, verified reason to proceed that stays valid throughout; if the justification disappears, the project should be stopped. Alongside this, teams look for lessons when starting, capture them while running, and pass them on at closure so knowledge is not lost.
Defined roles and manage by stages
PRINCE2 7 requires defined roles, responsibilities and relationships so everyone knows who decides what and how they engage. Projects are planned and controlled in management stages, with a Project Board decision at the end of each on whether to continue.
Manage by exception, focus on products, tailor
Tolerances are set for each objective and authority is delegated; only a forecast breach is escalated as an exception. The project stays focused on defining and delivering products to agreed quality, and the whole method is tailored to suit the project's context rather than applied blindly.