The Short Answer
Project management principles are the fundamental truths that guide how projects should be managed, regardless of the methodology used. The PMBOK 7th Edition (2021) defines 12 principles: Stewardship, Team, Stakeholders, Value, Systems Thinking, Leadership, Tailoring, Quality, Complexity, Risk, Adaptability, and Change. PRINCE2 adds 7 complementary principles focused on governance. These principles are universal—they apply whether you're using Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid.
Principles are not processes to follow; they are values to embody. A PM who understands principles can adapt to any methodology.
The Shift: From Process to Principle
Historically, project management was taught as a series of processes (Inputs → Tools → Outputs). However, the PMBOK Guide 7th Edition (2021) marked a seismic shift. It moved away from prescriptive processes to 12 guiding Principles. This allows for greater flexibility—whether you are building a bridge (Waterfall) or an app (Agile), the principles remain true.
The 12 Principles of PMBOK 7
Stewardship
Be a diligent, respectful, and caring steward. This involves integrity, care for the environment, and ethical financial management.
Team
Create a collaborative project team environment. Projects are delivered by people, not charts.
Stakeholders
Effectively engage with stakeholders. Engagement is more than just communication; it is understanding their needs and managing their influence.
Value
Focus on value. Outputs (deliverables) are useless if they don't achieve outcomes (benefits).
Systems Thinking
Recognize, evaluate, and respond to system interactions. Understand that a delay in procurement affects engineering, testing, and launch.
Leadership
Demonstrate leadership behaviors. Leadership is not a role; it is an activity that anyone on the team can demonstrate.
Tailoring
Tailor based on context. Don't use a hammer when you need a screwdriver. Adapt the methodology to the project's size and risk.
Quality
Build quality into processes and deliverables. It must be proactive, not reactive.
Complexity
Navigate complexity. Use experience and learning to handle ambiguity.
Risk
Optimize risk responses. Be proactive in identifying threats and opportunities.
Adaptability & Resiliency
Embrace adaptability. Be able to pivot when the environment changes.
Change
Enable change to achieve the envisioned future state. Prepare the organization to adopt the new product or process.
The 7 Principles of PRINCE2
For European and government contexts, PRINCE2 offers a slightly different, governance-heavy set of principles:
Continued Business Justification
Is there still a valid business case? Re-evaluate at every stage.
Learn from Experience
Use lessons learned from previous projects.
Defined Roles and Responsibilities
Everyone must know what they are accountable for.
Manage by Stages
Break the project into manageable chunks.
Manage by Exception
Only escalate to senior management when tolerances (budget/time) are exceeded.
Focus on Products
Define the deliverables clearly.
Tailor to Suit the Environment
Similar to PMBOK's tailoring—adapt to context.
Key Takeaways
- PMBOK 7 shifted from prescriptive processes to 12 guiding principles, enabling flexibility across methodologies.
- Principles like 'Stewardship' and 'Value' emphasize ethics and outcomes over rote process execution.
- PRINCE2 adds governance-focused principles like 'Continued Business Justification' and 'Manage by Exception.'
- Tailoring is a core principle in both frameworks—no methodology should be applied blindly.
- Understanding principles allows you to adapt any framework to your project's unique context.
