Guide (PMBOK) versus Manual (PRINCE2)?

Question

PMBOK is a guide - A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide Fourth Edition (PMBOK Guide). Meanwhile when read the PRINCE2 contents, the first section 1.1 is "The purpose of this manual", which I believed PRINCE2 is a manual. I am thinking is there any differences between Guide and Manual? Is it Guide reflects to the descriptiveness of the PMBOK and Manual reflects to the prescriptiveness of the PRINCE2?

Answer 1

Document titles are really just a matter of semantics, though the words Guide vs. Manual give you a hint.  Getting into each in more depth, you will find that PRINCE2 declares itself a methodology.  Its about what project managers should do and the processes they should follow.  It is very focused around the business case.  

On the other hand, the PMBOK Guide is more descriptive and about things the project manager should know.  The professional judgement of the PM is actually used to create the methodology.  The PMBOK Guide also offers many good alternatives (for example, different estimating techniques).

You can read more about these differences here:http://www.isssc3.com/prince2.asp#What is Prince2 and http://www.ppi-int.com/prince2/prince2-pmbok-relationship.php.

Comments

So is it true, the Guide reflects to the descriptiveness of the PMBOK and Manual reflects to the prescriptiveness of the PRINCE2? What I mean in terms of semantic aspect?