Who takes PRINCE2 training and why?

There are interesting trends among those who undertake the PRINCE2 certification and their motivations to do so. And could exploring these avenues help us to focus our energies on widening the approach and reach of PRINCE2, thus making it more accessible in the future?

All figures used are from the 2016 AXELOS PRINCE2 study. This study was made up of 2,434 respondents, 38% were from the UK (62% from the Rest of the World(RoW)). Currently the average age range of when one achieves PRINCE2 certification lies between 35-42 years old. This is in accordance with the UK respondents who detailed that they gained their PRINCE2 certification within 10 years of experience. As opposed to RoW, where it was noted that the period was greater than 10 years of experience. This could be due to the grassroots of PRINCE2 being firmly rooted within the UK, making it a widely known and encouraged programme, thus it’s taken earlier.

We can shift our attention to the respondents questioned who had not sat PRINCE2. The most insightful question that was posed to the respondents was “Why don’t you have PRINCE2?”. Encouragingly the most common response was that they planned to gain the certification in the future. This was the most popular answer by quite a margin; with the second most common response being that PRINCE2 was not required as part of the job role. The fourth response stated that their organisations did not pay for the certification or that the price of it was too high. We know from the study that, globally, 51% of all certifications are funded for by organisations; therefore making it an understandable reason as to why PRINCE2 certification had not been done. Favourably, less that 4% of candidates said that they didn’t see value in PRINCE2.

The respondents, who were PRINCE2 certified, were asked what their initial motivations had been to begin their training and exams. The number one answer for candidates from the UK was regarding enhancing their career progression, followed closely by further developing their skills. These two motivations were also the top two reasons among RoW PRINCE2 candidates. Another popular response was that PRINCE2 aids with career change. These three reasons coupled together further solidify the common thought that PRINCE2 is highly beneficial for career progression. Another reason was that it was a requirement as part of the job role.

This brings us onto our final point. Who initiates taking the programme and does that influence the number of candidates sitting PRINCE2? British, Canadian and Australian results were fairly similar with over half of the respondents saying that the decision to undergo the training came from their Line Managers or from HR. However respondents from Germany, where we know PRINCE2 is very popular, said that the decision was taken on by oneself. Furthermore India’s most populous answer said that the decision was mandatory company policy.

Overall, many factors contribute to the reasoning behind PRINCE2 training, from cost, accessibility, availability, knowledge of the course benefits to primary motivations. These factors should all be carefully considered when wishing to expand PRINCE2 to a larger target audience. Finally, the answer to “Was PRINCE2 valuable to your career?”, from every country in the report, was the same by a clear margin. They all answered with a resounding “Yes”.

 

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