Baselines, records, reports
Management products come in three kinds: baselines (approved and subject to change control — plans, the business case, the PID), records (dynamic, maintained throughout — risk register, issue register, daily log, lessons log), and reports (a snapshot at a point in time — highlight, checkpoint, end stage, exception).
Why it is like this
The three kinds have different change rules. Treating a record like a baseline freezes something that should move; treating a baseline like a record removes the control.
Not to be confused with
Documents. A management product can be a database entry, a wall, or a conversation captured — the method specifies the information, not the format.
In practice
The risk register is a record, so it changes freely. The project plan is a baseline, so changing it needs authority.
Source: Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2, 7th edition (PeopleCert, 2023) — PRINCE2 7, Appendix A — management products. Read on .
PRINCE2® is a registered trade mark of the PeopleCert group. ytyk.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by PeopleCert. These cards are independent commentary written in our own words; no part of the PRINCE2 manual, and no PRINCE2 diagram, is reproduced here.
Odd one out Check yourself
Three of these are records. Which one is a baseline?
Show the answer
Business case
The business case is baselined and changed under control. The registers and logs are maintained continuously.