PRINCE2 vs MSc in Project Management

[TheMagicPirate]

I'm looking to start my life so to speak and have decided that Project Management is a career that I'd really enjoy. I was hoping some people in the know could answer some questions for me.

Does anyone here work in Project Management and if so do you have a Prince2 or a different qualification, or both?
From what I can tell, based on the the cost and length of each course, the Prince2 seems to be more of an introduction to project management whereas, I suspect, the MSc will be more in depth.

Could a project manager quickly explain what it is that they actually do. I've taken my own assumptions from job descriptions, course information sheets and my own previous experience but I just want to hear what its like from the horses mouth so to speak.

Also, how do those of you working as project managers cope in-between projects. Do you find yourself out of work for long? I imagine you can't really apply for other jobs until your current project is totally finished?

I hope some people can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks

 

[Dj_Jestar]

Prince2 needs to die of death.

 

[Luke]

I disagree. Like all methodologies it is only a framework which you take what you need from. It shouldn't be followed word for word.
I've found it useful as have many of my colleagues.

The problem is a lot of people get sent on it by their organisations when it is not relevant to them, and there then comes the attitude that it didn't teach anything useful. Under those circumstances it wouldn't.

 

[krooton]

Prince2 is kind of the industry standard really.

I'm still flying by the seat of my pants a year after starting project management, lol

 

[CaptainComedy]

I disagree. Like all methodologies it is only a framework which you take what you need from. It shouldn't be followed word for word.
I've found it useful as have many of my colleagues.

The problem is a lot of people get sent on it by their organisations when it is not relevant to them, and there then comes the attitude that it didn't teach anything useful. Under those circumstances it wouldn't.

I agree with you on the fact that companies waste their money with irrelevant courses.

But tbh, I consider MSC a much more official and known result than a prince2. After all - do you see universities offering a prince2 degree? no. You can argue all you like as to why that is the case but the end result is that an MSC shows to the employer that your above the average degree student.

But its like my lecturer always said:

"its just a bit of writting on paper for your interview. What you learn is down to you."

 

[TheMagicPirate]

Prince2 is kind of the industry standard really.

I'm still flying by the seat of my pants a year after starting project management, lol

I noticed that, I always found it weird how a 5 day course could get a job that good.

What do you mean by 'flying by the seat of your pants'? Is that a good thing lol?

 

[Luke]

But tbh, I consider MSC a much more official and known result than a prince2. After all - do you see universities offering a prince2 degree? no. You can argue all you like as to why that is the case but the end result is that an MSC shows to the employer that your above the average degree student.

Oh I agree with that entirely. I'd never compare Prince2 to an MSc for a second. It's like comparing a degree in linguistics with a Linguaphone 'conversational Spanish in a week' course.
The subject matter may be similar, but the depth to which they go are entirely different.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

Prince2 is harmful. To spend as much time as Prince2 suggests on planning is only going to end in failed deadlines. How can you accurately say how long, for example, some development is going to take? Answer: You can't. You can give a rough measure, but the twist being it cannot be measured by anything other than how much effort it may take. Note the use of the word Effort and not Time. Time != Effort, and Prince2 is all about time to completion. Gantt charts ahoy!