Quick Answer
The answer is the Executive. In PRINCE2, the Executive is the single individual who owns the Business Case and holds ultimate responsibility for updating its justification and ensuring it remains viable throughout the project. While the Project Manager maintains the Business Case document and may draft updates, they lack the authority to approve changes to the project’s justification or alter its alignment with organizational strategy—that authority rests solely with the Executive. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this distinction often appears as a trick question: candidates frequently confuse the Project Manager’s role in maintaining the document with the Executive’s responsibility for the Business Case’s content and viability. A common memory tip is to remember that the Executive is the “business owner” who signs the checks, so they own the Business Case; the Project Manager merely keeps the paperwork tidy.
This PRINCE2F practice question tests your understanding of prince2 processes. 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.
In PRINCE2, who is responsible for updating the Business Case during the project?
The Executive
The Executive is accountable for the Business Case.
The Project Manager
Why wrong: The PM manages the project but does not own the Business Case.
The Senior Supplier
Why wrong: The Senior Supplier ensures supplier capabilities, not the Business Case.
The Senior User
Why wrong: The Senior User represents user requirements, not the Business Case.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The Executive
The Executive is the single individual responsible for the Business Case throughout the project in PRINCE2. They own the Business Case and must ensure it remains viable, justified, and aligned with organizational strategy, approving any changes to it. The Project Manager only maintains the Business Case document but does not have authority to update its justification or approve changes.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The Executive
Why this is correct
The Executive is accountable for the Business Case.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
The PM manages the project but does not own the Business Case.
The Senior Supplier
Why it's wrong here
The Senior Supplier ensures supplier capabilities, not the Business Case.
The Senior User
Why it's wrong here
The Senior User represents user requirements, not the Business Case.
Common exam traps
PeopleCert often tests the distinction between 'maintaining' a document (Project Manager) and 'owning/updating' its content (Executive), causing candidates to incorrectly select the Project Manager as the one who updates the Business Case.
Detailed technical explanation
Under PRINCE2, the Business Case is a key management product that drives all project decisions, and its ownership is explicitly assigned to the Executive in the project management team structure. The Executive must formally approve any changes to the Business Case via an Issue Report and Exception Report if the project deviates from its original justification. In real-world scenarios, if the Business Case becomes unviable, only the Executive can decide to close the project, not the Project Manager or any other role.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
PRINCE2 Processes — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
PRINCE2 Processes practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All PRINCE2F questions
1,731 questions across all exam domains
PRINCE2 Foundation study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
PRINCE2F practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to Overview of PRINCE2 and Principles.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to Business Case and Organizing.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to Project Initiation and Stages.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to Overview of PRINCE2 and the project environment.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to People: organizations, teams, and leadership.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to PRINCE2 Practices.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to PRINCE2 Processes.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to PRINCE2F fundamentals.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to PRINCE2F scenario.
Practise PRINCE2F questions linked to PRINCE2F troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
PRINCE2 Processes — This question tests PRINCE2 Processes — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The Executive — The Executive is the single individual responsible for the Business Case throughout the project in PRINCE2. They own the Business Case and must ensure it remains viable, justified, and aligned with organizational strategy, approving any changes to it. The Project Manager only maintains the Business Case document but does not have authority to update its justification or approve changes.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Who is responsible for ensuring that the project's business case remains viable throughout the project?
easyWhy B: The Executive (Senior Responsible Owner) is responsible for the Business Case. The Project Manager maintains it day-to-day, but the Executive owns it.
Variation 2. Who is responsible for ensuring that the Business Case remains viable throughout the project?
easyWhy D: The Executive (Senior Responsible Owner) is accountable for the Business Case and ensuring its ongoing viability.
Variation 3. Which role is responsible for maintaining the Business Case throughout the project?
mediumWhy D: The Executive (Senior Responsible Owner) is responsible for the Business Case throughout the project. The Project Manager develops and maintains the Business Case on behalf of the Executive, but the ultimate accountability lies with the Executive. The Project Board does not maintain the Business Case directly. The Senior User represents user requirements.
Variation 4. Which role is responsible for maintaining the Business Case throughout the project?
easyWhy B: The Executive (Senior Responsible Owner) is responsible for the Business Case. The Project Manager develops and maintains it, but ultimately the Executive owns it.
Variation 5. Who is responsible for maintaining the Business Case throughout the project?
easyWhy C: The Executive (Senior Responsible Owner) owns the Business Case and ensures its ongoing viability.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.