PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Practices Practice Question
A project is in the middle of a stage when the Project Manager identifies that a supplier has delivered a product that does not meet its quality specification. The supplier argues that the product is acceptable because it meets the minimum legal requirements, but the product description explicitly requires compliance with an additional industry standard. What should the Project Manager do FIRST according to PRINCE2?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that meeting legal minimums is sufficient when the product description demands a higher industry standard, and thus skipping the formal Off-specification process.
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
✓
Record the non-conformance in the Quality Register and raise an Off-specification.
The product fails to meet its specified quality criteria, so the Project Manager must log the failure in the Quality Register and raise an Off-specification. This formal step ensures the issue is escalated to the project board, which can then decide on corrective action, such as a Request for Change or accepting the deviation. Unilateral acceptance or rework instructions are not appropriate first steps.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Accept the product because it meets legal requirements, and update the product description to reflect the lower standard.
Why it's wrong here
Accepting a product that does not meet its agreed quality specification without approval undermines the project's quality management and could lead to scope creep or rework. The product description defines the required standard, and changing it unilaterally is not within the Project Manager's authority. The correct action is to escalate the deviation, not to lower the bar.
- ✓
Record the non-conformance in the Quality Register and raise an Off-specification.
Why this is correct
When a product fails to meet its quality specification, the Project Manager must first document the failure in the Quality Register and then raise an Off-specification to formally notify the project board and initiate exception management. This ensures the deviation is visible and managed, rather than accepting a substandard product that only meets legal minimums but not the agreed industry standard.
- ✗
Ask the project board to approve a change to the product description so that the legal minimum becomes the new specification.
Why it's wrong here
Requesting a change to the product description is a possible long-term solution, but it is not the first action. The Project Manager must first record the non-conformance and raise an Off-specification, which then allows the project board to decide whether to accept the deviation, request a change, or take other action. Skipping the Off-specification bypasses proper governance.
- ✗
Instruct the supplier to rework the product immediately and deduct the cost from future payments.
Why it's wrong here
While rework may eventually be required, the Project Manager must first formally record and escalate the non-conformance. Taking unilateral contractual action without project board involvement may breach governance and does not follow PRINCE2's exception management approach. The immediate step is to raise an Off-specification, not to manage the supplier directly in this manner.
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JA
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
This PRINCE2F practice question is part of Courseiva's free PeopleCert certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PRINCE2F exam.