Category: Project Management

ProjectTemplatesSoft for Project Management Templates & free upgrades

ProjectTemplatesSoft is an established Etsy shop specializing in professional-grade project management tools and documentation templates. Based in the UK, the shop focuses on providing structured frameworks for methodologies like PRINCE2 and Agile, catering to project managers, consultants, and business owners who need “ready-to-use” industry-standard assets. 

Plan On a Page POaP example template in Microsoft PowerPoint (35+)

You can view the full current inventory and read customer reviews directly on the ProjectTemplatesSoft Etsy Shop Page. 

Example of many POaP Plan On a Page templates for tailoring in MS PPT

Full Overview

The shop’s primary value proposition is bridging the gap between complex theoretical frameworks (like PRINCE2) and practical, everyday project execution. Their products are designed to be fully editable and professionally formatted to save users hundreds of hours of manual document creation. 

Example Agile Sprint Burn Down Chart template in MS Excel
  • Platform Focus: Primarily Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
  • Target Audience: Project managers (PMs), PMO leads, small business owners, and consultants.
  • Key Methodology Support: PRINCE2 (Project in Controlled Environments) and Agile Project Management.
  • Unique Selling Point: Includes annotated walkthrough guides and practical examples within the templates to help users “tailor” tools to their specific projects. 
Example of many MS Excel Budget Finance tracker templates to tailor

Detailed Breakdown of Template Offerings

The shop provides a wide range of assets, typically categorized by project phase or methodology: 

1. Waterfall & PRINCE2 Specifics

These templates focus on structured, sequential project delivery.

  • PRINCE2 MS Excel Plans: Fully annotated and editable project plans that follow the PRINCE2 methodology.
  • Waterfall Project Planners: Comprehensive tools that often include Gantt charts and resource cost trackers.
  • Document Bundles: Frequently includes “FREE Upgrades and additions” and a variety of MS Word templates for formal reporting and governance. 
Example template charts for the MS Excel Budget / Cost trackers

2. Project Control & Tracking Tools

Highly functional spreadsheets for day-to-day oversight:

  • Gantt Chart & Timeline Trackers: Automated trackers for visualizing project schedules.
  • Resource & Cost Trackers: Specialized Excel sheets for monitoring budget vs. actual spend and personnel allocation.
  • Action & Task Trackers: Simple but effective tools for logging team responsibilities and deadlines. 
Example of many MSP MPP Microsoft Project Plan templates to tailor

3. Agile & Lean Assets

For teams operating in iterative environments:

  • Agile Project Templates: Specific documents for sprint planning and backlog management.
  • Kanban Boards: Visual task management layouts within Excel or Google Sheets environments. 
Example Agile Burn Up Chart template in MS Excel

Why Users Choose ProjectTemplatesSoft?

  • Expert Craftsmanship: Reviews highlight that the seller is knowledgeable and provides active support for project management questions.
  • Comprehensive Documentation: Unlike basic planners, these often come with Word walkthrough guides, ensuring the buyer knows how to actually use the tool in a professional setting.
  • Cost Efficiency: Buying a pre-built, professional bundle is significantly cheaper than hiring a consultant to build a PMO toolkit from scratch. 
Documentation Templates Walk-through provided

You can view the full current inventory and read customer reviews directly on the ProjectTemplatesSoft Etsy Shop Page. 

Software Testing Approaches, Techniques

Testing Approaches, Techniques

Agile Scrum Epic vs Feature vs User Story

Agile Scrum Epic vs Feature vs User Story

PMO Types, Project Management Office

PMO Types, Project Management Office

Frameworks for making better decisions, setting priorities

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. 

Many POaP Plan On a Page examples

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. 
Example Plan On a Page POaP

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. 
Example Agile Scrum Burn Down Chart

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). 

Example MS Excel Delivery Plan

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.

Agile Manifesto, Values and Principles

Agile Manifesto, Values and Principles

Business Analyst BA Core Documents in Project Delivery

Business Analyst BA Core Documents in Project Delivery

Interview Questions, Senior Leaders and Responses

Interview Questions, Senior Leaders and Responses

Finance Terms every IT Professional Should Know

Finance Terms every IT Professional Should Know

Lean Six Sigma Global, How to Lead a Project

Lean Six Sigma Global, How to Lead a Project

Agile Daily Scrum Checklist Overview

Agile Daily Scrum Checklist Overview

BA Business Analyst in a Software Development Project

Business Analyst BA in a Software Development Project
BA in a Software Development Project

Microsoft Excel Project Backlog template & Work in Progress WIP

A Microsoft Excel project backlog template is a prioritized, centralized list of all pending work—features, user stories, bug fixes, and tasks—that need to be completed, often used in Agile, Scrum, or Kanban frameworks to manage team workload and project scope. 

Key Columns for an Effective Backlog Template

To create a detailed backlog, the following columns are essential for tracking, prioritizing, and assigning work items: 

  • ID / Task Number: A unique identifier for each item (e.g., P-001, P-002) for easy referencing.
  • Item Name / Title: A concise title describing the task or requirement.
  • User Story / Description: A detailed description of the work, often in the format: “As a [type of user], I want to [action], so that [value]”.
  • Type: Categorizes the work (e.g., Feature, Bug, Improvement, Technical Debt).
  • Priority: Defines the order of execution, typically Rank (1, 2, 3), High/Medium/Low, or MoSCoW (Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, Won’t-have).
  • Status: Indicates the current stage of the item (e.g., Backlog, To-Do, In Progress, Testing, Done).
  • Assignee / Owner: The team member responsible for completing the item.
  • Story Points / Effort Estimate: An estimated size of the task (e.g., using Fibonacci sequence: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…).
  • Acceptance Criteria: Specific conditions that must be met for the item to be marked as “Done”.
  • Target Sprint / Release: The planned iteration or release version in which the task is scheduled. 

Example Structure for MS Excel Project Backlog

This structure can be implemented in a simple Microsoft Excel sheet, enabling filtering and sorting by priority or assignee. 

Example Structure for MS Excel Project Backlog

Detailed Overview of Functional Features

  • Drop-down Menus (Data Validation): Use these for “Status,” “Priority,” and “Type” columns to maintain data consistency.
  • Conditional Formatting: Automatically color-code rows based on status (e.g., “Done” turns green) or priority (e.g., “High” turns red) to visually identify bottlenecks.
  • Formulas: Implement formulas to calculate total story points or project completion percentage.
  • Filtering: Use filtering on column headers to immediately view specific categories or an assignee’s workload. 

Related Agile Templates in MS Excel

  • Sprint Backlog: Contains only items selected from the main Product Backlog for the current 2-4 week sprint.
  • Kanban Board View: Organizes the backlog into vertical columns representing stages of workflow (Backlog, In Progress, Done).
  • Burndown Chart: Uses data from the backlog to plot remaining work hours over the course of a sprint.

……….

Project Work in Progress or WIP

A Work in Progress (WIP) template in Microsoft Excel serves two primary purposes depending on your industry: operational task tracking for project management or financial reporting for construction and contracting. 

1. Essential Columns for Operational WIP (Project Management) 

This format focuses on day-to-day task execution and risk management. 

  • Task / Activity: Clear description of the work being done (e.g., “Design Phase Sign-off”).
  • Owner / Assigned To: Name of the person or team responsible for the task.
  • Due Date: The critical deadline for task completion.
  • Status: Current state of the task, typically using a dropdown menu for “Not Started,” “In Progress,” “Blocked,” or “Complete”.
  • % Complete: A numerical value (0–100%) providing granular visibility into progress.
  • Priority: Categorisation of importance (High, Medium, Low) to help teams focus on critical items.
  • Notes / Blockers: Documentation of risks, dependencies, or reasons for delay. 

2. Essential Columns for Financial WIP (Construction/Contracting)

This format bridges financial data with project completion to calculate earned revenue and billing accuracy.

Essential MS Excel Columns for Financial WIP (Construction/Contracting)

Advanced Template Features

  • Status Dashboard: A summary section at the top of the sheet displaying overall project health, risks, and budget status.
  • Data Validation: Using dropdown lists for the “Status” and “Budget” columns to ensure consistent data entry.
  • Conditional Formatting: Using color-coded indicators (Red, Yellow, Green) for at-risk tasks or budget overruns.
  • Freeze Panes: Locking the header rows so they remain visible while scrolling through long task lists. 

Microsoft Excel Project Backlog template & Work in Progress WIP

……….

Summary of ‘Project Backlog’ columns in Excel

  1. ID / Task Number
  2. Item Name / Title
  3. User Story / Description
  4. Type
  5. Priority
  6. Status
  7. Assignee / Owner
  8. Story Points / Effort Estimate
  9. Acceptance Criteria
  10. Target Sprint / Release

……….

Summary of (Project Management) ‘Operational’ Work in Progress (WIP) columns in Excel

  1. Task Activity
  2. Owner / Assigned To
  3. Due Date
  4. Status
  5. % Complete
  6. Priority
  7. Notes / Blockers

……….

Summary of (Construction / Contracting) ‘Financial’ Work in Progress (WIP) columns in Excel

  1. Contract Data
  2. Cost Tracking
  3. Forecasting
  4. Progress
  5. Revenue
  6. Billing
  7. Variance

……….

End> Microsoft Excel Project Backlog template & Work in Progress WIP

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. 

Key PMBOK structural changes

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. 

SC cleared Senior IT Project Manager and Engagement Manager

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.
Tandem Guardian Principles Course, 1993
  • 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

How Project Managers use Claude AI to run projects

Project Management Methodologies Summarised

Project Management Methodologies Summarised