PRINCE2F People: organizations, teams, and leadership Practice Question
A Project Board is concerned that the Project Manager is making decisions that should be reserved for the board. Which principle of PRINCE2 is being violated?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that any governance problem is about defined roles and responsibilities, but the specific breach is exceeding delegated tolerances, which is manage by exception.
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
✓
Manage by exception
The principle of manage by exception requires that the Project Board sets tolerances and delegates authority to the Project Manager to manage within those limits. When the Project Manager makes decisions that should be reserved for the board, they are acting outside the agreed tolerances, thus violating this principle. The other principles are not directly related to the delegation and control of authority in this scenario.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Manage by exception
Why this is correct
Manage by exception means that the Project Board sets tolerances for the Project Manager and delegates authority within those limits. If the Project Manager is making decisions that should be reserved for the board, then the agreed tolerances are not being respected, and the principle of manage by exception is being violated. The Project Board should only be involved when exceptions occur, but the Project Manager must stay within the defined boundaries.
- ✗
Learn from experience
Why it's wrong here
Learn from experience is about seeking lessons from previous projects and incorporating them into the current project. The scenario describes a governance issue where the Project Manager oversteps authority, not a failure to capture or use lessons. Therefore, this principle is not the one being violated. The focus here is on the delegation and control boundaries, which relate to manage by exception.
- ✗
Tailor to suit the project environment
Why it's wrong here
Tailoring involves adapting PRINCE2 to the size, complexity, and environment of the project. The scenario does not indicate that the project's processes are unsuited to its environment; instead, it highlights a breakdown in the delegation of authority. Tailoring could define tolerances, but the violation itself is about exceeding authority, which is a manage by exception issue.
- ✗
Defined roles and responsibilities
Why it's wrong here
Defined roles and responsibilities ensures that everyone understands their role and what is expected of them. While the Project Manager overstepping could suggest a role clarity issue, the specific principle being violated is manage by exception, which sets the boundaries for delegated authority. The scenario points to the Project Manager making decisions reserved for the board, which is about exceeding tolerances, not about unclear roles.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PeopleCert exam blueprint
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