PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question
A project manager is initiating a new project and needs to formally authorize the project and assign the project manager. Which document provides this authorization?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the business case, which justifies the project, with the project charter, which authorizes it.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Project charter
The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and names the project manager, granting authority to use organizational resources. The business case provides justification, the project management plan guides execution, and the stakeholder register supports engagement; none of these authorize the project. For initiation, the charter is the correct artifact.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Project charter
Why this is correct
The project charter formally authorizes the existence of the project and gives the project manager authority to apply organizational resources to project activities. It is typically issued by the sponsor or initiating entity and includes high-level information such as objectives, success criteria, and the named project manager. This matches the scenario's need for formal authorization.
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Project management plan
Why it's wrong here
The project management plan describes how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled, but it does not authorize the project or the project manager. It is created later, during planning, after the project has already been approved. Using it as the authorizing document would invert the correct sequence and leave the project without formal sanction.
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Stakeholder register
Why it's wrong here
The stakeholder register identifies people and groups affected by the project along with their interests and influence. It is a planning artifact used to manage engagement, not an authorizing document. It cannot grant the project manager authority or formally start the project, so it does not satisfy the sponsor's requirement in this scenario.
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Business case
Why it's wrong here
The business case justifies why the project is worth doing by comparing costs, benefits, and risks, but it does not formally authorize the work. It supports the decision to proceed and often feeds into the project charter. Without a charter, the business case alone does not grant the project manager authority over resources or budget.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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