The answer is to provide a balanced view of the project's justification. This is correct because the PRINCE2 Business Case must document both positive benefits and negative dis-benefits—measurable outcomes that, when weighed together, give the Senior User and Senior Supplier a complete picture for an informed go/no-go decision. Without including dis-benefits, the Business Case would be biased, potentially hiding adverse impacts that could undermine the project’s viability. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this concept tests your understanding that the Business Case is not just a sales pitch but a balanced justification tool; a common trap is confusing dis-benefits with risks, but remember that dis-benefits are certain negative outcomes, while risks are uncertain events. For a quick memory tip, think “balance the scale”—benefits on one side, dis-benefits on the other, so the decision is truly justified.
PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Practices Practice Question
This PRINCE2F practice question tests your understanding of prince2 practices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Exhibit:
Business Case:
Expected Benefits:
- Reduced operational costs by 15%
- Improved customer satisfaction score to 90%
Expected Dis-benefits:
- Initial investment of $500,000
Net Benefits: $1,200,000 over 3 years
Risks:
- Market changes may affect cost savings (probability: Medium, impact: High)
Based on the exhibit, what is the purpose of including expected dis-benefits in the Business Case?
Refer to the exhibit.
Exhibit:
Business Case:
Expected Benefits:
- Reduced operational costs by 15%
- Improved customer satisfaction score to 90%
Expected Dis-benefits:
- Initial investment of $500,000
Net Benefits: $1,200,000 over 3 years
Risks:
- Market changes may affect cost savings (probability: Medium, impact: High)
A
To identify risks that could affect the project
Why wrong: Dis-benefits are not risks; they are certain negative outcomes.
B
To show the full cost of the project including ongoing operational costs
Why wrong: The dis-benefit shown is an initial investment, which is a cost, but the purpose is broader: to show negative impacts.
C
To provide a balanced view of the project's justification
Dis-benefits are included to give a complete picture of the project's value, including both positive and negative outcomes.
D
To document the project's key performance indicators
Why wrong: KPIs are not dis-benefits; they measure performance.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To provide a balanced view of the project's justification
Option C is correct because the PRINCE2 Business Case must include expected dis-benefits to provide a balanced view of the project's justification. Dis-benefits are measurable negative outcomes that, when weighed against benefits, allow the Senior User and Senior Supplier to make an informed go/no-go decision. Without documenting dis-benefits, the Business Case would present an incomplete picture, potentially leading to approval of a project with hidden negative impacts.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
To identify risks that could affect the project
Why it's wrong here
Dis-benefits are not risks; they are certain negative outcomes.
✗
To show the full cost of the project including ongoing operational costs
Why it's wrong here
The dis-benefit shown is an initial investment, which is a cost, but the purpose is broader: to show negative impacts.
✓
To provide a balanced view of the project's justification
Why this is correct
Dis-benefits are included to give a complete picture of the project's value, including both positive and negative outcomes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
To document the project's key performance indicators
Why it's wrong here
KPIs are not dis-benefits; they measure performance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse dis-benefits with risks or costs, but PRINCE2 explicitly separates them: dis-benefits are certain negative outcomes, risks are uncertain events, and costs are financial expenditures.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The dis-benefit shown is an initial investment, which is a cost, but the purpose is broader: to show negative impacts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In PRINCE2, dis-benefits are defined as measurable negative outcomes that are forecast to occur as a direct result of the project's outputs. Unlike risks, which have a probability and impact, dis-benefits are certain and must be included in the Business Case's cost-benefit analysis. For example, a project to automate a manufacturing line might have a dis-benefit of 'loss of 50 jobs' — this is not a risk but a guaranteed outcome that must be weighed against the benefit of '20% increase in production speed'.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PRINCE2F exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
PRINCE2 Practices — This question tests PRINCE2 Practices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: To provide a balanced view of the project's justification — Option C is correct because the PRINCE2 Business Case must include expected dis-benefits to provide a balanced view of the project's justification. Dis-benefits are measurable negative outcomes that, when weighed against benefits, allow the Senior User and Senior Supplier to make an informed go/no-go decision. Without documenting dis-benefits, the Business Case would present an incomplete picture, potentially leading to approval of a project with hidden negative impacts.
What should I do if I get this PRINCE2F question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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