Agile Scrum Epic vs Feature vs User Story

Frameworks for making better decisions, setting priorities

Project Management Templates bundle with free upgrades

Mark Whitfield’s Project Management templates are a comprehensive, editable suite of over 200 documents designed for Agile, Waterfall, and PRINCE2 methodologies, based on over 30 years of project delivery experience. Available through his website (click banner link above), Etsy, Flevy and Eloquens, these templates are designed to be used across the project lifecycle—from initiation to closure—and include lifetime free updates and additions.

Full Overview of Mark Whitfield Template Bundle

The bundle, priced at around £38.00 (as of April 2026), provides tools for MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and MS Project (.mpp).

1. Planning & Scheduling

MS Project (MPP / MSP): Includes full PRINCE2 7th Edition, Agile Scrum, and SDLC (Software Development Life-cycle) plans.
Excel Detailed Plans: Includes Gantt chart tracking for users without MS Project.
Plan on a Page (POaP): Over 30 PowerPoint examples for executive summaries.

2. PRINCE2 & Governance

Full set of over 200 documents including Project Initiation Document (PID), Business Case, Work Packages, Risk Management Strategy, and Configuration Item Records.
Reporting: Highlight reports, exception reports, and end-stage reports.

PRINCE2 Delivery Plan in MS Excel Example

3. Tracking & Risk Management

RAID Logs: Comprehensive trackers for Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies (includes simple and detailed versions).
Finance Trackers: Simple and full project finance trackers (forecasting, actuals, variance, rate lookups).
RACI Matrix: Resource Responsibility Assignment Matrix.

Many Project Budget / Financial Tracker examples

4. Execution & Delivery

SDLC: Detailed Software Development Life-cycle plans.
Deployment/Runbook: Execution and release planning documents.
Agile: Burn down and burn up charts.

Detailed Timeline by Project Life Cycle

Templates provide detailed MS Project (.mpp) and Excel schedules that map out the standard project life cycle over time. The plans include notes and color-coded tasks (black: standard task, blue: artifact creation, brown: decision/event, purple: artifact update).

1. Project Startup / Initiation Phase

Tasks: Project Mandate, Project Brief preparation, Appoint Project Board, Define Project Approach.
Key Templates: Project Brief, PID, Business Case, Project Board Structure.

2. Planning Phase

Tasks: Develop the PID, Create Detailed Gantt Plans, Create Budgeting/RAID Logs, Setup Communication Strategies.
Key Templates: Detailed MS Project Plans (Waterfall/Agile), RACI Tracker, RAID Log.

3. Project Execution / Control Phase

Tasks: Weekly Status Reporting, Risk Management, Managing Product Delivery, Stage Assessments.
Key Templates: Highlight Report, Issue Register, Daily Log, Financial Tracker.

4. Project Close Phase

Tasks: Handover, Project Evaluation, Lessons Learned, Finalize Costs, Close Project.
Key Templates: End Project Report, Lessons Log, Benefits Realization Plan.

Summary of Key Features

Fully Editable: Designed to be tailored to specific project needs (PRINCE2 Principle 7).
Access: Compatible with Desktop, Tablet, Smartphone, and Cloud (Microsoft Teams/SharePoint).
Support: Free lifetime upgrades (and additions) to the latest template package after purchase.
Click on link in website banner above to purchase full templates bundle

Project Management Templates bundle with free upgrades.

Lean Six Sigma Global, How to Lead a Project

Agile Daily Scrum Checklist Overview

Agile Backlog Refinement Activities and Business Analyst BA

Agile Backlog Refinement Activities & Business Analyst

Buy Project Management Templates bundle

Mark Whitfield’s project management templates are a comprehensive collection of over 200 editable Microsoft Office resources designed for Agile, Waterfall, and PRINCE2 7th Edition delivery. Built from over 30 years of project delivery experience at blue-chip companies like Capgemini, Barclays, and HSBC, these tools focus on practical, functional utility rather than “flashy” design.

Core Template Categories

The bundle is primarily provided in MS Excel, MS Project (.mpp), MS PowerPoint, and MS Word formats.

Planning & Scheduling:
- Detailed Project Plans: Pre-configured MS Project (MPP) and Excel templates for SDLC, PRINCE2, and Agile Scrum.
- Plan on a Page (POaP): Over 35 PowerPoint and Excel slide examples for high-level executive summaries.
- Gantt Charts: Built-in tracking views for both MS Project and Excel.
Tracking & Control:
- RAID Logs: Comprehensive registers for tracking Risks, Actions, Issues, and Dependencies, often including charts and automated dashboards.
- RACI Matrix: Templates to define team roles and responsibilities (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed).
- Finance Trackers: Detailed spreadsheets for monitoring forecasts vs. actuals, margins, variances, and expenses.
Reporting & Governance:
- Status Reports: Weekly and monthly templates in Word and PowerPoint for internal and client health reporting.
- Agile Specifics: Burn Down and Burn Up charts in Excel for teams without access to tools like Jira.
- PRINCE2 Management Products: Standard documents including Project Briefs, PIDs, Business Cases, and Lesson Logs.

Key Features and Insight

Lifelong Support: A one-time purchase includes free upgrades and additions for life.
Full Customisation: All files are fully editable, allowing project managers to tailor them to specific project sizes and methodologies.
Methodology Neutral: Templates are designed to work for traditional Waterfall (PRINCE2) or modern Agile Scrum environments, with specific notes on how to transition between them.
Visual Dashboards: Many Excel templates include built-in charts and pivot tables to provide instant visual readouts of project health, such as financial variance or RAID status.

Availability

The full package is available for purchase on Mark-Whitfield.com or through the ProjectTemplatesSoft Etsy shop.

Buy Project Management Templates bundle

Over **200 editable Microsoft Office resources** designed for **Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, and PRINCE2** delivery.

PMBOK 6 vs PMBOK 7, what changes are there between version 6 and 7

What changes are there between PMBOK version 6 and 7

The transition from the PMBOK Guide 6th Edition to the 7th Edition represents a fundamental shift from a prescriptive, process-oriented framework to a flexible, principles-based one. While the 6th Edition focused on “how” to manage projects through specific steps, the 7th Edition focuses on “why” and “what” outcomes are being achieved.

Major Insights into the Changes

From Processes to Principles: PMBOK 7 replaces the 49 prescriptive processes with 12 Project Management Principles (e.g., Stewardship, Team, Stakeholders, Value, Tailoring) that serve as foundational guidelines for behavior and decision-making in any environment.
Performance Domains: The 10 Knowledge Areas are replaced by 8 Performance Domains (Stakeholders, Team, Development Approach, Planning, Project Work, Delivery, Measurement, and Uncertainty). These domains focus on critical activity groups for delivering outcomes rather than step-by-step tasks.
Value Delivery System: The 7th Edition introduces a “system for value delivery,” shifting focus from just managing project deliverables to how projects contribute to an organization’s overall strategy and business goals.
Tailoring: While always part of project management, tailoring is now a core principle and has its own dedicated chapter in PMBOK 7. It encourages project managers to adapt their approach based on the specific project context, complexity, and organizational needs.
Agile and Hybrid Integration: PMBOK 7 fully integrates agile and hybrid practices into the core text, whereas PMBOK 6 largely treated them as an appendix or a separate guide.
Models, Methods, and Artifacts: The rigid ITTO structure of PMBOK 6 is replaced by a broader section on Models, Methods, and Artifacts. This provides a high-level grouping of tools without prescribing exactly when or how they must be used.

PMP Exam Context

PMBOK 7 does not make PMBOK 6 obsolete. For the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, both editions remain relevant reference materials. PMBOK 6 provides the technical workflow “checklist,” while PMBOK 7 provides the “mindset” and measurement strategies for modern, complex projects.

IT Mark Whitfield, SC Cleared Senior Project Manager

Mark Whitfield is a highly experienced SC cleared Senior IT Project Manager and Engagement Manager with over 30 years in the IT industry, specializing in both Agile and Waterfall delivery for large-scale blue-chip companies, digital projects, and payment systems. After starting as a programmer, he transitioned into project management, eventually working with Capgemini and establishing a professional templates resource site.

IT Project Management Overview

Key Expertise: Senior IT Project Management (Agile / Scrum / Waterfall / PRINCE2), Delivery Management, Business Transformation, and SC clearance.
Sector Focus: Banking, Finance, Transportation (Heathrow, NATS), Retail, Government (Local Regional Government – LRG), Aerospace & Defence, and Gambling.
Technical Background: Programming in COBOL85, Tandem TAL, SQL, C, C++, Java, and experience with HPE NonStop (BASE24) systems.

Tandem TAL Programming certificate, 1995

Tools & Methodologies: PRINCE2, Agile SCRUM, Microsoft Project (MPP), Excel RAID logs, and Jira.
Value Proposition: Focuses on improving revenue, cost, and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) through structured SDLC methodologies.

Detailed Historical Timeline

Era 1: Programming & Technical Development (1990–1995)

1990: Graduated in Computing and joined The Software Partnership (later Deluxe Data) in Runcorn as a programmer specializing in electronic banking software (sp/ARCHITECT) on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop).

1990-1995: Developed code (COBOL85/NonStop SQL) for major banks, including TSB, Bank of Scotland, Rabobank, and Girofon.
1993 (May): Completed Tandem Guardian Principles Course.

1994: Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems acquired The Software Partnership.
1995 (June): Completed HP NonStop Performance Analysis and Tuning.

Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems acquired The Software Partnership in 1994

HP NonStop Performance Analysis and Tuning, 1995

Era 2: Specialized Software & Product Management (1995–2013)

Insider Technologies Limited (ITL) in Salford Quays

1995 (August): Joined Insider Technologies Limited (ITL) in Salford Quays as a senior programmer, later moving into product / project management.

1995-2013: Focused on monitoring (Reflex) and batch scheduling (MultiBatch) software for HPE NonStop systems, serving clients like Barclays and Alliance & Leicester.

2000 (May): Completed Microsoft Project ’98 Certification and began training other ITL project managers on scheduling best practices.

2007: Insider Technologies products (Reflex) integrated into FIS solutions.
2013: Published work in the HP NonStop journal “The Connection”.

HPE NonStop journal “The Connection” – article for the Insider Technologies product, RTLX

Era 3: Senior IT Project Management (2013–2016)

2013-2014: Worked at Wincor Nixdorf as an IT Project Manager (PRINCE2 / Agile Scrum) on a £5m+ LBG Self-Service Software Replacement (SSSR) program for Lloyds Banking Group, migrating ATM systems from HP NonStop to AIX.

2014-2016: Joined Betfred as a Senior Project Manager, delivering payment gateways, sportsbook, and virtual gaming projects in Agile SCRUM for mobile and online platforms.

Era 4: Engagement Management & Public Sector (2016–Present)

2016 (January): Joined Capgemini UK as a client-facing Engagement Manager (SC cleared).

2016 (August): Founded Mark Whitfield Consultancy Ltd, managing independent IT, network, and improvement projects.
2016-2018: Led Waterfall / Agile projects for automotive, local government, and postal services.
2018-2019: Augmented into MuleSoft as a Delivery Manager for the Anypoint Platform.

2023-2024 (Nov-Feb): Served as Technical Delivery Manager for a UK Government account, overseeing a £1m+ Fish Export Service (FES) to Common Entry Health Document (CHED) Inspection Portal (CHIP) project.
2026: Continued to provide project management thought leadership and template resources for Agile/Scrum/PRINCE2.

Agile Scrum Burn down Chart template in Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Project MPP MSP Project Plan Template examples

Plan On a Page POaP templates plus MPP MS Project and MS Excel Project Plan templates

Key Projects & Clients

UK Gov / Capgemini: Fish Export Service (FES) Cloud Migration.
MuleSoft: Anypoint Platform.
Wincor Nixdorf/Lloyds: ATM/Self-Service Software Replacement.
Jaguar Landrover (JLR), Heathrow, Royal Mail Group, NATS, Euroclear: Various IT and Digital projects.
Banking: Rabobank, Barclays, HSBC, Bank of England, Standard Chartered.

IT Mark Whitfield, SC Cleared Senior Project Manager

How Project Managers use Claude AI to run projects

Project Management Methodologies Summarised

Servant Leadership in Project Management

Difference between Scrum Master and Project Manager

Agile Scrum, difference between Capacity and Velocity

Jackson Structured Programming JSP is a program design methodology, overview and timeline

Jackson Structured Programming (JSP) is a program design methodology developed by British software consultant Michael A. Jackson in the 1970s. It focuses on mapping the structure of a problem—specifically its data structures—directly onto the structure of the program used to solve it.

Overview of Jackson Structured Programming

JSP is designed to create programs that are easy to maintain and modify because the program’s control structure naturally handles the input and output data structures.

Core Principle: Requirement changes are typically minor tweaks to existing data structures. By aligning program structure with data structure, small changes to inputs or outputs translate into small, manageable changes in the code.
Methodology: The technique involves analyzing the structure of input files and output files, constructing diagrammatic representations of these, and then creating a program structure that handles both.
Key Constructs: JSP utilizes three basic structures for both data and programs, which can be visualized as a form of regular expression:
- Sequence: A series of operations performed in order.
- Iteration: The repetition of operations until a specific condition is met.
- Selection: Choosing between different operations based on a condition.
Diagrams: JSP uses structure diagrams rather than flowcharts to represent the design, breaking down complex tasks into smaller, simpler parts.

Excerpts from my HND project which made use of Jackson Structured Programming (JSP) as part of the program design phase

Detailed Historical Timeline

Early Years (1960s–1974): Conceptualization and Founding

1960s: Michael A. Jackson works in data processing, encountering limitations in program reliability and seeking more systematic approaches to software design.
1968: Jackson contributes to the early modular programming movement, collaborating with other pioneers.
1970: Jackson leaves John Hoskyns & Company to found Michael Jackson Systems Limited, aimed at fully developing a new design methodology.
1971: JSP becomes the core product of Michael Jackson Systems Limited, offering consultancy and training services.
1974: The name “Jackson Structured Programming” is coined by a Swedish licensee of the company.

Established Method (1975–1979): Documentation and Adoption

1975: Jackson publishes “Principles of Program Design,” the definitive text documenting JSP.
1975: Michael Jackson Systems Ltd. begins offering software tools to support JSP design for COBOL programs.
1977: JSP is widely recognized and adopted in Europe, the US, and Asia.
Late 1970s: The UK government adopts JSP (under the name “SDM” – System Development Methodology) as its standard program design method.
Late 1970s: The World Health Organization adopts JSP as a standard for program specification.

Evolution into System Design (1980s): JSD

Early 1980s: Building on the principles of JSP, Jackson develops Jackson System Development (JSD) to address the design of entire information systems, not just individual programs.
1983: Jackson publishes “System Development,” formally introducing JSD.
1983-1989: JSD continues to evolve, with new features introduced in subsequent publications and manuals.

Maturity and Retrospective (1990s–Present)

1990s: Jackson develops the Problem Frames Approach, his third major methodology focusing on requirements analysis.
1997: Jackson receives the Stevens Award for Software Development Methods.
1998: Jackson receives the British Computer Society Lovelace Medal.
2001: At a conference, Jackson provides a retrospective analysis of JSP’s driving forces and its relevance to modern software engineering.
Present: While overshadowed by object-oriented and agile methods, JSP principles remain useful for programming “in the small” and handling specific batch processing or embedded software tasks.

Jackson Structured Programming JSP is a program design methodology, overview and timeline

Daily Planning for Agile Scrum Teams on a page

Agile Framework Methodology Key Criteria for Selecting

Senior IT Project Manager & Project Templates author – Mark Whitfield

Mark Whitfield is a highly experienced SC-cleared Senior IT Project Manager and Engagement Manager with over 30 years of experience in the software development lifecycle (SDLC), specializing in Agile and Waterfall delivery for financial, automotive, and public sector clients. He has a strong background in HP NonStop (Tandem) systems and currently works for Capgemini.

Mark Whitfield, Senior IT PM and Project templates author

Comprehensive Career Timeline

Early Career & Foundations (1988–1995)

1988–1990: Completed Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing at Bolton Institute of Higher Education (BIHE).
1990–1994: The Software Partnership (Runcorn): Programmer specializing in electronic banking software (sp/ARCHITECT-BANK) on Tandem Computers.
1994–1995: Deluxe Data (formerly TSP): Lead Analyst/Programmer, focusing on software investigation, design, coding, and on-site installation for clients like TSB, Bank of Scotland, and Rabobank.

Development & Technical Specialization (1995–2013)

1995–2013: Insider Technologies Limited: Spent 18 years progressing from Senior Development Engineer to Project Manager for Strategic Technical Initiatives.
Key Roles: Managed Reflex 80:20 and Reflex ONE24 product development, technical pre-sales, and consultancy. Developed diagnostic software for monitoring payment systems (BASE24).
Notable Project: Managed a bid to replace legacy ATM tools at LloydsTSB (5000 ATMs) with Reflex ONE24.

Banking & Digital Project Management (2013–2016)

2013–2014: Wincor Nixdorf: Project Manager in the Professional Services Banking Division, managing a £5m+ work stream for Lloyds Banking Group’s Self-Service Software Replacement (SSSR) programme.
2014–2016: Betfred: Senior Digital Project Manager for the Online and Mobile Division, delivering payment gateways and sportsbooks for iOS, Android, and Windows.

Senior Engagement Management (2016–Present)

2016–Present: Capgemini UK: Engagement Project Manager responsible for delivering both Waterfall and Agile digital projects.
2016 (Approx.): Assigned to a UK-wide Air Traffic organization (NATS) for Apple iOS app delivery.
2018–2019: MuleSoft (Secondment): Served as a Delivery Manager for the Anypoint Platform.
Current Focus: Cloud Migration (Hybrid) of 130 apps for UK Government.

Client & Colleague Recommendations

Mark Whitfield is noted for being a detail-oriented manager who provides a strong barrier between developers and difficult clients, while maintaining a friendly, professional, and diplomatical approach.

Agile Management: “Mark provided an excellent barrier between us (developers) and a difficult client…ensuring that we followed the agile principles” — Callum Marriage (Developer).
MuleSoft/Capgemini Engagement: “Customers loved him. His was extremely detailed oriented and understood the often-complex needs…never became flustered in high pressure situations” — Delivery Manager, MuleSoft.
Betfred (2015): “I would highly recommend Mark for his ability to successfully multi-task under significant pressure… [he] produced a very comprehensive handover document” — IT Compliance Analyst, Betfred.
Capgemini/JLR Project: “Mark was able to do a good planning, with the correct resources, on time delivery and with good relationship between stakeholders” — Head of Integration Development.

Key Areas of Expertise

Methodologies: PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile SCRUM, ITIL, ISO9001:2008.
Tools: MS Project, MS Excel/Office, RAID logs.
Technical Background: HP NonStop (Tandem) Systems, BASE24, C++, TAL, COBOL.
Industries: Financial/Banking, Aerospace & Defence, Government, Automotive, Gambling.

Mark Whitfield’s website (mark-whitfield.com) serves as a professional portfolio and resource hub for his 30+ year career as a SC-cleared Senior IT Project Manager. It offers over 200 editable project management templates for Agile, Waterfall, and PRINCE2 methodologies, alongside career insights and project experience.

Website & Content Overview

Project Management Resources: The site, often known as PROject Templates, provides downloadable templates for planning, scheduling (Gantt charts), project initiation (PID), and project control.
Methodology Focus: Resources are tailored for PRINCE2 (including Agile Scrum), and Agile/Waterfall delivery methods.
Career Portfolio: Features his work history as a Senior IT Project Manager, including roles at Capgemini, Betfred, and various financial institutions.
Technical Specialization: Highlights expertise in HP NonStop systems, digital projects, and payment/transaction systems.
Professional Background: Mentions his experience with major clients such as Jaguar Landrover, Heathrow, Royal Mail, and various banks.

The site is designed for project managers looking for templates to speed up project documentation and for clients looking to review his career accomplishments.

Senior IT Project Manager & Project Templates author – Mark Whitfield

Templates sold on this website are designed for Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and MS Project (MPP) and are used for tracking and planning software development lifecycle (SDLC) projects.

Template Breakdown

The templates, often sold in a bundle, include over 200+ editable items aimed at project delivery. Key components include:

Project Planning (MS Project & Excel): Detailed Waterfall project planners with Gantt views, Agile Sprint plans, and Plan on a Page (POaP) examples.
RAID Logs (Risk, Action, Issue, Dependency): Comprehensive Excel trackers for managing risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies.
Financial & Resource Management: Project finance trackers (forecasts, actuals, variance) and resource trackers for tracking team members and costs.
Project Governance (Word & PowerPoint): Project initiation documentation (PID), status reports, RACI matrices (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed), and project organization charts.
Agile/Scrum Tools: Burn-down and burn-up charts, story dependency trackers, and Kanban templates.
Closeout: Lessons learned logs and benefit realization analysis trackers.

Where to Buy

Official Website: mark-whitfield.com (PROject Templates) is the primary source, offering a bundle with free lifetime upgrades.
Etsy: Mark Whitfield’s templates are available for purchase here, particularly for those needing alternative payment methods.
Eloquens: He maintains a channel on Eloquens for downloading professional templates.

The templates are fully editable, allowing users to tailor them to specific project requirements.

Project Manager vs Product Manager, key differences overview

Types of Product Managers Overview

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: