WU uses the PRINCE2 project management standard and can build on the positive experiences IT-SERVICES has had with this methodology. To see first-hand how PRINCE2 plays out in practice right from the get-go, the working group decided to draw up the manual in the form of a project in its own right. “This raised some questions at the beginning and initially extended the start-up phase of the project,” explains Roland Humer, who commissioned the manual. “In the actual implementation, however, we were then able to keep to the schedule in every phase because the roles and tasks were so clearly defined. The manual and the corresponding intranet page were published on schedule. This proves that we used our resources in the project very efficiently and productively.”

In a large organization like WU, it can take a while to coordinate processes and plan projects. This is where a shared understanding of project management can help projects move faster and more efficiently. The structured guidelines and checklists PRINCE2 offers can be very helpful for planning and organizing tasks, even for employees who are not currently involved in any projects.

Gisela Bartsch, who wrote key parts of the manual, explains the underlying concept: “Some of the project management terminology may sound unfamiliar at first. When writing the manual, we took care to use easy language. We used illustrations and specific WU-related examples to make the different phases and terms easier to understand.”

The manual, along with additional documents and links, is available on the Project Management@WU intranet page (in German). It provides information on individual project phases, complemented by checklists, a glossary, and an overview of units and panels that are relevant stakeholders in projects carried out at WU. With this information, we would like to create a common ground and a shared understanding of how projects are carried out at WU.