PRINCE2 vs PMP vs Agile: Which Should A New PM Actually Learn First?

A new project manager should choose an Agile certification, mostly the PSM1 (professional scrum master) or CSM (certified scrummaster), considering it is the fastest way to get a recognized credential on your resume, apart from cultivating the working mindset that most employers seek in potential employees. 

Also important in this context is the serious consideration of your career goals, industry you want to work with, and location where you live or want to apply for a job. To say otherwise, due consideration must be given to the priority of these factors to come up with a wise decision of whether you should go for PRINCE2, PMP or Agile. 

In this write-up, we are taking a deep dive exploring how each certification stands, and what they have in store for a new project manager, enabling them to make an informed choice in picking a professional certification best suited to their career journey. 

PRINCE2 VS PMP VS Agile: Explaining differences

A brief narration about PRINCE2, PMP, and Agile has already been made in the opening line of this write-up, and the further statement clarifies them in a sense how they technically distinguish from one another and what it means for a new project manager.

To begin with, PRINCE2 is a methodology providing a step by step process to run a project. PMP is a certification or a professional credential that a new project manager earns. And Agile is a mindset or framework of working, not something that can be confined into a strict methodology. 

Overall, they are frameworks, methodologies, and credentials serving as a guidebook for professionals on how to manage work.

However, PRINCE2, PMP, and Agile all come under the same roof called certification, which means each program trains a learner differently. It also means whatever skills you learn will be applicable as per your working environment. Therefore, all these 3 certifications may overlap depending on the environment. Here's a quick break down of these certifications:

PRINCE2 VS PMP VS Agile: Different Training for Different Goals

Even if you are a new project manager working in a company or looking for a job, you need to understand that each of these certifications trains your brain to look at projects from a different standpoint and through a different lens. No similarity in the context of the learning process is conducted, which is what keeps them apart from one another. 

PRINCE2, for example, trains you the necessary skills and expertise to manage governance and control, PMP trains you on the complete toolkit, such as resource management, budgeting, risk and leadership principles. And Agile trains you for speed and adaptability like how you can manage changes, and daily team collaboration.

As a new manager, these differences among PRINCE2, PMP, and Agile can at least inform how they differ from one another despite being instrumental parts in the project management lifecycle in a working environment. 

Interestingly, you can't forcibly apply the PRINCE2 framework on a startup suffering from rapid change and shifting priorities. In the same way, you can't apply a pure, undocumented Agile approach to build a robust project. Essentially, you apply what is to be applicable, ensuring whether it fits in the culture, the client and other elements of your workplace. 

PRINCE2 VS PMP VS Agile: How They Overlap in Project Management

A modern project management ecosystem uses PRINCE2, PMP, and Agile approaches depending on what fits the goals. Overlapping happens when they work with the common goal of delivering a successful project that meets business value. But overlapping doesn't mean that they deviate from their execution methodologies.

PMP-certified project managers, for example, know how to lead projects using globally-recognized frameworks and proven industry techniques rather than trusting a guesswork. Similarly, PRINCE2 follows rules and structure. Agile follows shifting plans and adjusting workflows based on real time feedback (adaptive executive) and deploying these adaptive changes so that new features safely reach users (continuous delivery). 

It is worth noting that today nearly 50% of the PMP exam includes Agile and hybrid environments, which accentuates why learning Agile principles is essential for studying PMP. 

Explaining PRINCE2 and its Key Characteristics

PRINCE 2 (Projects in controlled environments) is an international standard for project management methodology originally developed by the UK government. The methodology is now widely adopted for dividing projects into controlled stages, each tied to specific goals, documentation requirements, governance, and decision points. 

Key characteristics of PRINCE2:

• Clearly defined project roles and responsibilities.
• Structured project lifecycle.
• Learn from experience
• Strong governance framework.
• Extensive documentation
• Continuous business justification
• Quality and risk management

Explaining PMP and its Key Characteristics

PMP (Project management professional) is a globally-recognized certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). For an experienced project manager, PMP is a learning opportunity for a broad range of topics, including project planning, scope management, scheduling, cost/risk management, leadership, stakeholder communication, procurement, hybrid and Agile practices.

It is worth noting that PMP is designed mostly for experienced professionals rather than complete newcomers. This is because of the reason that PMI enforces strict experience prerequisites for candidates to pursue PMP certification, making it difficult for beginners or recent graduates to qualify for the exam. 

PMP: Key Characteristics:

• Risk & quality management
• Budgeting and resource allocation
• Quality control and performance monitoring
• Adaptive methodology
• Resource and schedule optimisation
• Stakeholder management

What does PMP Mean for a New Project Manager if it Mandates Strict Experience Prerequisites to Pass the Exam? 

While PMP may not be relevant for immediate certification for a new project manager, it is still highly valuable for them for the sake of their long term career roadmap, enabling them to build the right habits from day one. As a new project manager, you should not give up on PMP as it will help you map out the kind of skills, methodologies and leadership qualities you need to build over time for the next three to five years while handling and leading project development lifecycle.

Learning terminologies related to PMP like scope creep or critical path will help you communicate professionally well with senior project managers. Besides, it will give you a clear target, allowing you to look for those projects at work that will help you build 3 to 5 years of project leading experience needed to qualify for the PMP exam in future. 

Basically, you may not qualify for the PMP exam immediately considering you have no experience but over time, while working on relevant projects, you will gain relevant experience that will qualify for the exam.

Explaining Agile and its Key Characteristics

Agile or Agile methodology is a technical approach of dividing work into small, manageable cycles, allowing teams to rapidly adapt to any changes and maintain continuous delivery. In an easy definition, Agile is a methodology in which the Agile team breaks down a project into small, manageable cycles so that they can quickly adapt to any changes that may occur during the project development lifecycle. 

It is based on the principle of delivering small pieces of value continuously. Popularity of this methodology is not just limited to software development but also to marketing, product development, finance, healthcare, education, and other industries. Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Extreme Programming, and SAFe (scaled agile framework) are some of the examples of it. 

Key characteristics:

• Iterative and incremental delivery
• Adaptability and flexibility
• customer collaboration
• Cross functional and self-organising teams
• Continuous improvement

PRINCE2 VS PMP VS Agile: Which Certification Should a New Project Manager Choose?

Now that we have discussed at great length how each of these certification features respectively by elaborating them in their definition and key characteristics, here's how each matters for a new project manager.

Meaning of PRINCE2 for a new project manager

For a new project manager, PRINCE2 certification provides clear definitions of who does what, when and why to ensure delivery of the project in alignment with its business value. 

• No experience barrier - PRINCE2 for a new manager holds promising value in the context that it doesn't mandate leadership experience.
• A step by step guide - The certification teaches you methodology that is structured and repeatable. 
• Defined roles and boundaries - No guesswork, just clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

Meaning of PMP for a new project manager

As outlined before, a new project manager can't qualify for the PMP exam, it can be used to leverage their competency in key methodologies once they gather experience over time, at least 36 months of project management experience. 

Meaning of Agile for a new project

Agile holds a great value for a new project, especially for those managing projects in software engineering, digital marketing and creative tech industries. 

• Lower risk of failure - Since Agile involves breaking down a project into small, manageable chunks, you get to learn everything step by step, catching mistakes early before they become a problem later. 
• Managing change easily - The good thing about Agile is that it is basically designed to adapt to change. This means you will learn how this methodology allows you to make changes throughout the entire project's cycles and protects the team from chaotic change that happens in the middle of the project development lifecycle. 
• Best team collaboration - Agile frameworks like Scrum rely on team collaboration involving daily stand-up meetings and clear visual boards. A structure of this way makes it easier for a new project manager to keep track of what the team is up to without having to micro-manage them.

PRINCE2 VS PMP VS Agile: Which One a New Project Manager should Choose?

Based on clarification of each certification program, a new project manager should make a beeline for Agile methodology, not because it mandates no strict experience prerequisites unlike PMP, but because this provides a foundational stone for learning how to handle real-world chaos and deliver the work faster. 

But when it comes to deciding which formal certification exam to pay for and put on a resume right now, then the choice depends on the industry you want to work in and location. Agile is the immediate winner if you want to work in tech, software, startups, or digital media. 

PRINCE2 is the immediate winner for a new project manager if they want to work in traditional corporate or government sectors where projects are to be completed through step by step processes. Also, both agile and PRINCE2 don't mandate experience prerequisites, thus bringing home the opportunity to learn either certification comfortably based on your career goal, industry and the geographic region where you want to apply for jobs. 

In conclusion, either PRINCE2 or Agile is the winner for a new project manager, depending on their career goal, industry they want to work in, and location where they live or want to apply for jobs.

Bonus content:

As a new project manager, do not hinge your decision of which certification program to choose for your career goal, as countless debates on this subject line may overwhelm you. Narrow down your focus to either Agile or PRINCE2 by ensuring which one perfectly suits your professional objective and target industry, plus location. If your ambition is to work in tech or startups, follow Agile, if it is European corporates or government sectors, go PRINCE2. Don't hesitate and stay confused. Get certified in either and use it to lead a project successfully for some years, and then make a beeline for PMP to touch the milestone in your career you always wanted to see.