PRINCE2F Overview of PRINCE2 and Principles — 10 Questions

Question 1

A project manager is reviewing the business case for a new software development project. The project is expected to generate significant revenue, but the initial investment is high. According to PRINCE2, which principle is MOST directly being applied when the project manager ensures that the business case remains viable throughout the project?

Accepted Answer

Continued business justification. The PRINCE2 principle of Continued Business Justification requires that the business case, which documents the project's justification, is reviewed and updated at key decision points (e.g., stage boundaries) to ensure the project remains viable. In this scenario, the project manager is actively verifying that the high initial investment is still justified by the expected revenue, directly applying this principle to avoid proceeding with an unviable project.

Answer

Manage by stages

Answer

Learn from experience

Answer

Tailor to suit the project environment

Question 2

During a project, a key stakeholder raises a concern that the project scope has expanded significantly without formal approval. The project manager realizes that changes have been implemented informally. Which PRINCE2 principle has been violated?

Accepted Answer

Manage by stages. The scenario describes scope changes being implemented without formal approval, which violates the 'Manage by stages' principle. PRINCE2 requires that a project be planned, monitored, and controlled on a stage-by-stage basis, with each stage ending in a formal review and approval before proceeding. Implementing changes informally bypasses stage boundaries and the associated management controls, directly breaking this principle.

Answer

Defined roles and responsibilities

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Continued business justification

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Learn from experience

Question 3

A project team is working on a complex infrastructure project. The project manager wants to ensure that the project is tailored appropriately. According to PRINCE2, which principle addresses the need to adapt PRINCE2 to the project's specific context?

Accepted Answer

Tailor to suit the project environment. The 'Tailor to suit the project environment' principle directly addresses the need to adapt PRINCE2 to the specific context of the project, including its size, complexity, importance, capability, and risk. For a complex infrastructure project, this means adjusting management products, roles, and processes (e.g., simplifying the Business Case or using a more detailed Risk Register) to fit the project's unique technical and organizational environment, ensuring the method remains effective without being overly burdensome.

Answer

Continued business justification

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Focus on products

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Manage by stages

Question 4

A project to build a new bridge is underway. The project board has decided to use a stage plan for the next stage rather than a detailed Gantt chart for the entire project. This approach aligns with which PRINCE2 principle?

Accepted Answer

Manage by stages. The decision to use a stage plan for the next stage rather than a detailed Gantt chart for the entire project directly reflects the 'Manage by stages' principle. This principle requires that the project board only plans in detail for the immediate next stage, while higher-level plans cover the remainder of the project, enabling control and flexibility.

Answer

Continued business justification

Answer

Learn from experience

Answer

Focus on products

Question 5

A project manager notices that the project's product descriptions are being created after the products have already been developed. Which PRINCE2 principle is being ignored?

Accepted Answer

Focus on products. The 'Focus on Products' principle requires that a project defines and agrees on product descriptions (including quality criteria) before development begins, ensuring that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of what will be delivered. Creating product descriptions after development violates this principle because it undermines the definition of scope, quality expectations, and acceptance criteria upfront, leading to potential rework and misalignment.

Answer

Learn from experience

Answer

Tailor to suit the project environment

Answer

Manage by stages

Question 6

Which TWO of the following are PRINCE2 principles?

Accepted Answer

Continued business justification. Continued business justification is a core PRINCE2 principle that requires the business case to remain viable throughout the project lifecycle. This principle ensures that the project is not started without a clear justification and that this justification is reviewed and updated at key decision points, such as stage boundaries. It directly supports the PRINCE2 focus on ongoing viability rather than a one-time approval.

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Risk management

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Configuration management

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Waterfall methodology

Question 7

Which THREE of the following are PRINCE2 principles?

Accepted Answer

Tailor to suit the project environment. Option A is correct because 'Tailor to suit the project environment' is one of the seven PRINCE2 principles. This principle requires that the method be adapted to the specific context of the project, including its size, complexity, importance, capability, and risk, ensuring that PRINCE2 is applied appropriately without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Answer

Plans

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Business Case

Question 8

Refer to the exhibit. Which principle is not being applied in the project?

Accepted Answer

Learn from experience. The principle 'Learn from experience' is not being applied because the project team is repeating the same mistakes from previous projects without reviewing lessons learned logs or incorporating feedback. PRINCE2 requires continuous learning throughout the project lifecycle, but the exhibit shows no evidence of lessons being documented or used to improve current practices.

Answer

Manage by stages

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Tailor to suit the project environment

Answer

Focus on products

Question 9

Refer to the exhibit. Which principle is missing from the configuration?

Accepted Answer

Manage by stages. The PRINCE2 principle 'Manage by stages' is missing from the exhibit because the configuration lists only 'Continued business justification,' 'Learn from experience,' 'Roles and responsibilities,' 'Manage by exception,' 'Focus on products,' and 'Tailor to suit the project environment.' The seven PRINCE2 principles are all required, and 'Manage by stages' is the one omitted. Without it, the project lacks the mandatory planning and control mechanism that divides the project into discrete management stages, each with its own plan and review points.

Answer

Focus on products

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Manage by exception

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All principles are applied

Question 10

You are the project manager for a large-scale IT infrastructure project for a multinational corporation. The project involves deploying new servers across 20 countries, with a budget of $5 million and a timeline of 18 months. The project has been running for 6 months and is currently in its second stage. The project board consists of the executive, senior user, and senior supplier. Recently, the senior user has been raising concerns that the project is not delivering the expected benefits, and the business case may no longer be viable due to changes in market conditions. The senior supplier argues that the project should continue because significant resources have already been invested. The executive is undecided. As the project manager, you need to advise the project board on the best course of action based on PRINCE2 principles. Which of the following should you recommend?

Accepted Answer

Request the project board to review and update the business case immediately. If it is no longer viable, recommend stopping the project.. B is correct because PRINCE2's continued business justification principle requires that the business case remain viable throughout the project. As project manager, you must escalate to the project board for an immediate review when the senior user raises concerns about benefits and market changes. If the business case is no longer viable, the project should be stopped to avoid further waste of resources, regardless of sunk costs.

Answer

Postpone the decision until the end of the current stage to conduct a full review.

Answer

Tailor the continued business justification principle to allow the project to continue due to its strategic importance.

Answer

Continue with the project as planned because significant investment has already been made.