# PRINCE2 Controlling a Stage > Draft Controlling a Stage (CS) documents aligned with PRINCE2. Covers Work Packages, Highlight Reports, Issue Reports, Exception Reports, corrective action plans, and stage progress tracking. Tags: Project Management, PRINCE2, Monitoring, Reporting ## Example Prompts - Create a Work Package with product descriptions, tolerances, and reporting arrangements - Write a Highlight Report summarizing stage progress and tolerance status - Draft an Exception Report with options analysis for a forecast budget overrun URL: https://rakenne.app/skills/prince2-controlling-stage/index.md Try this skill: https://rakenne.app/a/?skill=prince2-controlling-stage ## Overview Draft Controlling a Stage (CS) documents aligned with PRINCE2. Covers Work Packages, Highlight Reports, Issue Reports, Exception Reports, corrective action plans, and stage progress tracking. ## Getting Started Upload your current Stage Plan, risk and issue registers, and any progress data to the workspace and activate the *PRINCE2 Controlling a Stage* skill. The agent will help you draft Work Packages, Highlight Reports, Issue Reports, and Exception Reports. --- ## Example Conversation Below is an example of a typical session creating a Highlight Report and handling an issue during a website redesign project. The agent tracks stage progress and drafts an Issue Report for a supplier delay. > **You:** I need to write the Week 6 Highlight Report for Stage 2 of our corporate website redesign. We're 6 weeks into a 10-week stage. Budget is EUR 80K for this stage with +/- EUR 8K tolerance. The design agency delivered the UX wireframes 4 days late, which is pushing the front-end development start. I also need to raise a formal Issue Report because the agency says their lead designer has resigned and they may need 2 more weeks for the visual design phase. > > **Agent:** I'll create both documents. Let me gather some details for the Highlight Report: > > 1. What was accomplished this period (Week 5–6)? > 2. What are the key risks currently in the register? > 3. Are any other Work Packages on track? > > **You:** This period: UX wireframes received and approved (4 days late), content audit completed on time, CMS vendor shortlisted to 2 finalists. Backend API Work Package is on track. Top risk: integration complexity with the existing customer portal (score 12). No other issues. Spend to date: EUR 42K against EUR 48K planned (underspend because front-end work hasn't started yet). > > **Agent:** I've drafted both documents: > > **Highlight Report** (`reports/highlight_week6.md`): > - **Stage Status:** Amber — schedule pressure from agency delay > - **This Period:** UX wireframes approved, content audit complete, CMS shortlist finalized > - **Next Period:** Visual design kickoff (delayed), CMS vendor selection, front-end development planning > - **Tolerance Status:** Schedule: 4 days consumed of +/- 2 weeks tolerance. Cost: EUR 6K underspend (timing, not savings). Forecast: within tolerance unless agency delay extends. > - **Escalation Note:** If the agency delay extends to 2+ weeks (designer resignation), schedule tolerance will be threatened. See Issue Report ISS-007. > > **Issue Report** (`issues/iss_007_agency_delay.md`): > - **Type:** Problem/Concern > - **Severity:** Major > - **Impact:** +2 weeks schedule, EUR 5K additional cost (extended project team), risk of cascading delay into Stage 3 > - **Options:** (1) Accept delay, absorb within tolerance. (2) Bring in a freelance designer to parallel-track. (3) Descope the visual design to essential pages only. (4) Replace the agency. > - **Recommendation:** Option 2 — engage a freelance designer (EUR 4K) to maintain schedule. Keeps cost within tolerance and avoids dependency on a single agency resource. --- ## Document Excerpt Below is a representative excerpt from a **Highlight Report** prepared with the skill. --- ### Highlight Report — Week 6 (Excerpt) **Project:** Corporate Website Redesign **Stage:** Stage 2 — Design & Development **Period:** Weeks 5–6 **Status:** AMBER --- #### Tolerance Status | Dimension | Baseline | Actual / Forecast | Tolerance | Status | |---|---|---|---|---| | Schedule | 10 weeks (end Week 10) | Forecast: end Week 11 (+4 days) | +/- 2 weeks | Amber — within tolerance but trending | | Cost | EUR 80,000 | Spent: EUR 42,000 / Forecast: EUR 82,000 | +/- EUR 8,000 | Green — within tolerance | | Products | 6 products | 3 completed, 3 in progress | All 6 delivered | Green | #### This Period | Activity | Status | Notes | |---|---|---| | UX wireframes (WP-004) | Completed (4 days late) | Agency delay — designer availability. Approved after minor revisions. | | Content audit (WP-005) | Completed (on time) | 247 pages audited; 62 flagged for rewrite, 41 for removal. | | CMS vendor evaluation | In progress | Shortlist: 2 vendors (Contentful, Strapi). Final selection next week. | | Front-end development (WP-006) | Not started | Delayed — waiting on visual design. Planned start now Week 7. | #### Key Issues and Risks | ID | Type | Description | Priority | Status | |---|---|---|---|---| | ISS-007 | Problem | Agency lead designer resigned; visual design phase at risk of +2 week delay | Must-do | Open — Issue Report raised | | RSK-012 | Risk | Customer portal integration complexity | High (12) | Open — mitigation in progress | | RSK-015 | Risk | CMS vendor contract negotiation delay | Medium (8) | Open — monitoring | #### Escalation Recommendations If the agency confirms a 2+ week delay (ISS-007), the stage schedule tolerance will be consumed. The Project Manager recommends engaging a freelance designer (EUR 4K) as a parallel track. If cost exceeds stage tolerance, an Exception Report will be raised. --- *This excerpt is illustrative. Final content must reflect the specific project's data and stage context.* --- Back to [Skill Library](https://rakenne.app/skills/index.md)