Author: Mark Whitfield

Welcome to my site! After graduating in Computing in 1990, I accepted a position as a programmer at a Runcorn based software house specialising in electronic banking software, namely sp/ARCHITECT-BANK on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop). This was before the internet became more prevalent and so the notion of enabling desktop access to company accounts for inter-account transfers and book keeping was still quite a cutting edge idea (and smartphones only ever hinted at in Space 1999). The company was called The Software Partnership (which was taken over by Deluxe Data in 1994). I spent 5 years in Runcorn developing code for SP/ARCHITECT for various banks like TSB, Bank of Scotland, Rabobank and Girofon (Denmark) to name but a few. I then moved onto a software house in Salford Quays for further bank facing projects. After a further 23 years in the IT industry and now a Senior IT Project Manager (both Agile and Waterfall delivery), I thought I would echo out my Career Profile in this corner of the internet for quick and easy access.

IT Project Testing Techniques

IT Project Testing Techniques

Successful Project Plan

Successful Project Plan

Agile Scrum compared to Kanban

Agile Scrum compared to Kanban

PRINCE2 Management Products Templates Overview and Historical Timeline

PRINCE2 management products are the 26 standard documents (templates) used to manage a project throughout its lifecycle. They are categorised into Baselines (plans and definitions), Records (registers and logs), and Reports (periodic updates). 

PRINCE2 Microsoft Project & Excel templates

Management Products Overview

The core templates provided in the methodology ensure consistent project control. Official templates are often available through accredited providers, this website or the official AXELOS website. 

  • Baselines: Used to define the project foundation (e.g., Business Case, Project Initiation Document, Plan).
  • Records: Dynamic logs to track day-to-day data (e.g., Risk Register, Issue Register, Lessons Log).
  • Reports: Snapshots of progress or specific events (e.g., Highlight Report, Checkpoint Report, Exception Report). 

Historical Timeline of Templates & Methodology

The evolution of these products reflects a shift from rigid, IT-specific documents to flexible, industry-agnostic templates. 

The Pre-PRINCE Era (1975 – 1988) 

  • 1975: PROMPT II (Project Resource Organisation Management and Planning Techniques) was developed by Simpact Systems Ltd.
  • Key Focus: Introduced the concept of project phases (Initiation, Specification, Design) but was strictly for IT. 

The PRINCE Era (1989 – 1995) 

  • 1989: PRINCE (PROMPT II in the CCTA Environment) launched by the UK Government’s CCTA.
  • Key Focus: Added Critical Path Analysis and formal management roles, but remained IT-heavy and rigid. 

The PRINCE2 Emergence (1996 – 2008)

  • 1996: PRINCE2 (1st Edition) was released as a generic framework.
  • Key Change: IT-specific jargon was removed to make templates applicable to any industry.
  • 2002/2005: Minor updates (3rd and 4th Editions) focused on minor refinements based on user feedback. 

The Revision Era (2009 – 2022)

  • 2009: PRINCE2:2009 Refresh (5th Edition) introduced the seven core principles.
  • Key Change: Templates were simplified and made more customisable to reduce “prowess-driven” bureaucracy.
  • 2017: PRINCE2 6th Edition (formerly the 2017 Update) launched.
  • Key Change: Emphasis on Tailoring and scalability for different project sizes. 

The Modern Era (2023 – Present)

  • 2023: PRINCE2 7th Edition was released.
  • Key Change: Added a “People” element and introduced three new management approaches: Sustainability, Commercial, and Digital & Data. 

Template Kits & Resources

For those seeking pre-formatted digital versions:

  • PRINCE2 7th Edition Template Bundle: Comprehensive sets including MS Project MPP, Excel Gantt charts, and Word artifacts are available at Etsy and eBay.
  • Specialised Packs: Focused collections like the PRINCE2 Control & Monitoring Pack can be found at WorkFlo Design.
  • Individual Documents: Individual templates like the Project Initiation Document (PID) are often sold separately for specific project needs. 
  • PRINCE2 Templates can be purchased directly from this website including a Microsoft Project Plan in MPP format and also a Microsoft Excel Project Plan in XLS format, see below and website link.

PRINCE2 Management Products Templates Overview and Historical Timeline

PRINCE2 Microsoft Project MPP file template
PRINCE2 Microsoft Excel XLS template 1
PRINCE2 Microsoft Excel XLS template 2

PRINCE2 Templates FREE Upgrades

Mark Whitfield’s PRINCE2 template collection is a comprehensive set of over 200 editable Microsoft Office documents designed to support both waterfall and agile project delivery. These templates are classified into several key categories, ranging from core PRINCE2 management products to advanced planning and tracking tools. 

Example Microsoft Project MPP file template

Core PRINCE2 Management Product Templates

This category includes the standard documentation required by the PRINCE2 methodology, often provided in MS Word (.doc) format. 

  • Project Initiation & Definition:
    • Project Brief: Initial summary used to gain approval for the initiation stage.
    • Project Initiation Document (PID): A comprehensive document containing the project definition, approach, business case, and management strategies.
    • Business Case: The primary justification for the project’s existence.
  • Registers and Logs:
    • Risk Register: For identifying and managing project risks.
    • Issue Register & Issue Report: For tracking and detailing specific project problems.
    • Lessons Log & Lessons Report: To capture and share knowledge gained throughout the project.
    • Daily Log: For the Project Manager to record informal issues or activities.
  • Reporting and Progress:
    • Highlight Report: Periodic progress updates for the Project Board.
    • Checkpoint Report: Updates from the Team Manager to the Project Manager.
    • End Stage & End Project Reports: Summaries of performance at key project milestones.
    • Exception Report: Used when a project is forecast to exceed its tolerances.
  • Quality and Configuration:
    • Product Description: Detailed specifications for each project deliverable.
    • Quality Register: Records all planned and completed quality activities.
    • Configuration Item Record: Tracks the status and version of project products. 

Advanced Planning and Tracking Templates 

Whitfield provides specialized tools for visual scheduling and financial management, primarily in MS Excel and MS Project (.mpp) formats. 

  • Project Planners:
    • PRINCE2 Waterfall Project Planner: A detailed Gantt-view planner in Excel for those without MS Project licenses.
    • MS Project (MPP) Templates: Pre-configured plans for PRINCE2 7th Edition, including end-to-end tasks and lifecycle stages.
    • Plan on a Page (POaP): High-level visual summaries of project timelines.
  • Resource and Financial Management:
    • Project Financial Tracker: Monitors forecast vs. actual costs, including margins and expenses.
    • Resource Costing Grid: Detailed grids for calculating costs per project phase.
    • RACI Tracker: Defines Roles and Responsibilities (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed). 

Operational and Agile Support

These supplemental templates assist with daily project operations and hybrid agile environments. 

  • RAID Log: A centralized tracker for Risks, Actions, Issues, and Dependencies.
  • Agile Specifics: Burn-down/up charts and sprint-view Gantt charts for scrum-based delivery.
  • Stakeholder Analysis Plan: Tools to map stakeholder influence versus impact.
  • Mobilisation/On-boarding Kit: PowerPoint templates for team kick-offs and onboarding. 

Visual Classification (Font Coding) 

In many of Whitfield’s automated plans, tasks are color-coded for quick visual breakdown: 

  • Black: Traditional PRINCE2 stage or activity.
  • Blue: Creation of a PRINCE2 artefact (e.g., creating a log).
  • Purple: Updating an existing artefact.
  • Green: Formal closing of an artefact. 

The full bundle is available for purchase on Mark Whitfield’s Official Website or through his Etsy Store. 

PRINCE2 Templates FREE Upgrades

Agile Scrum Sprint 0 Zero Setup for Success

Agile Scrum Sprint Zero 0 Setup for Success

Project Phases, Scrum Master & Project Manager Checklist

Project Phases, Scrum Master & Project Manager Checklist

Roger Federer Overview and Historical Timeline by Era and Year

Roger Federer is a Swiss former professional tennis player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in history. His 24-year career (1998–2022) is defined by a “deadly combination of power and grace,” characterized by an effortless one-handed backhand and fluid movement. He won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record eight at Wimbledon, and held the world No. 1 ranking for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks. 

Historical Career Timeline

Era 1: Junior Years and Professional Transition (1992–2002) 

Before his global dominance, Federer was a temperamental junior who transformed into a top-ten professional. 

  • 1992–1993: Served as a ballboy at the Swiss Indoors in his hometown of Basel.
  • 1995: Accepted into the Swiss Tennis national development programme at age 14.
  • 1998: Won the Wimbledon junior singles and doubles titles; finished the year as the world’s No. 1 junior. Made his ATP debut at the Swiss Open Gstaad.
  • 1999: Became the youngest player (18 years, 4 months) to end the year in the top 100.
  • 2000: Reached the bronze-medal match at the Sydney Olympics (finished 4th) and met his future wife, Mirka Vavrinec.
  • 2001: Gained international fame by defeating defending champion Pete Sampras at Wimbledon to reach his first major quarter-final. Won his first ATP title in Milan.
  • 2002: Ended the year ranked No. 6 globally; qualified for his first year-end Masters Cup (ATP Finals). 

Era 2: Unrivalled Dominance (2003–2007) 

Federer established a “Golden Era,” reaching all four Grand Slam finals in a single year three times during this period (2006, 2007, 2009). 

  • 2003: Won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, defeating Mark Philippoussis.
  • 2004: Won three Grand Slams (Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and became world No. 1 for the first time on 2 February, a position he would not relinquish for 237 weeks.
  • 2005: Defended his Wimbledon and US Open titles.
  • 2006: Arguably his greatest season, winning three majors and reaching the final of the fourth (French Open); finished with a 92–5 match record.
  • 2007: Reached all four Grand Slam finals again, winning three. Defeated Novak Djokovic in the US Open final to claim his 12th major.

Era 3: Rivalries and Record-Breaking (2008–2012) 

As rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic emerged, Federer achieved his most significant career milestones. 

  • 2008: Battled mononucleosis but won a fifth consecutive US Open. Won Olympic Gold in doubles with Stan Wawrinka.
  • 2009: Completed the Career Grand Slam by winning the French Open and broke Pete Sampras’s record of 14 majors by winning his 15th at Wimbledon.
  • 2010: Won his fourth Australian Open.
  • 2011: The first year since 2002 he did not win a major title, despite ending Djokovic’s 43-match win streak at the French Open.
  • 2012: Won a record-equalling 7th Wimbledon title, returned to world No. 1, and won Olympic Silver in singles at the London Games. 

Era 4: Injury Struggles and Late Renaissance (2013–2019) 

After several years of injury and titles eluding him, Federer staged a historic comeback. 

  • 2013–2016: Plagued by back and knee injuries. Underwent knee surgery in 2016 and missed the second half of that season, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in 14 years.
  • 2017: Returned from a 6-month layoff to win the Australian Open (defeating Nadal) and a record 8th Wimbledon title without dropping a set.
  • 2018: Won his 20th and final Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and became the oldest world No. 1 in history at age 36.
  • 2019: Won his 100th career title (Dubai) and reached his 12th Wimbledon final, losing an epic 5-set match to Djokovic despite holding championship points. 

Era 5: Retirement (2020–2022) 

  • 2020–2021: Limited by multiple knee surgeries. Played his final Grand Slam match at Wimbledon 2021, reaching the quarter-finals.
  • 2022: Announced his retirement in September. Played his final match—a doubles pairing with Rafael Nadal—at the Laver Cup in London.

Roger Federer Overview and Historical Timeline by Era and Year

Roger Federer career statistics

…with hyperlinks

Roger Federer‘s professional career spanned 24 years, from his ATP debut in 1998 to his emotional retirement at the Laver Cup on 23 September 2022. He concluded his career with 103 singles titles and 20 Grand Slam championships, including a record eight Wimbledon titles. 

Career Timeline (1998–2022)

  • 1998: Professional Debut
    • Federer made his ATP debut at the Swiss Open Gstaad.
    • Won the Wimbledon junior singles and doubles titles.
  • 2001: Breakthrough Victory
    • Defeated defending champion Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, ending Sampras’s 31-match win streak and reaching his first major quarter-final.
  • 2003: First Grand Slam Title
  • 2004: Ascending to World No. 1
    • Won the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
    • Became World No. 1 for the first time on 2 February, beginning a record-breaking streak of 237 consecutive weeks at the top.
  • 2006: The “Career-Best” Season
    • Reached the final of all four Grand Slams, winning three of them (Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and finishing the year with 12 titles and a 92–5 record.
  • 2008: Olympic Gold
  • 2009: Career Grand Slam
    • Won the French Open to complete his Career Grand Slam and equaled Pete Sampras’s then-record of 14 major titles.
    • Secured his 15th major title at Wimbledon shortly after.
  • 2012: Olympic Silver & No. 1 Return
    • Won an eighth Wimbledon title and reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking.
    • Earned an Olympic silver medal in singles at the London Games.
  • 2014: Davis Cup Triumph
    • Led Switzerland to its first-ever Davis Cup title, defeating France in the final.
  • 2017: The Renaissance
    • After a six-month injury hiatus, won the Australian Open and a record eighth Wimbledon title.
  • 2018: 20th Grand Slam & Oldest No. 1
  • 2022: Retirement
    • Announced his retirement on 15 September.
    • Played his final competitive match in doubles alongside Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London.