Change Authority Role: Optional Delegation by the Project Board
Which TWO of the following statements about the Change Authority role are correct?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that the Change Authority role is an optional delegation by the Project Board. This is because PRINCE2 does not mandate a Change Authority; it is only established when the Project Board chooses to delegate its authority for making decisions on change requests within predefined limits, such as cost or time thresholds. By doing so, the Board avoids being overwhelmed by every minor change, while retaining control over major deviations. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this concept tests your understanding of the optional nature of management roles and the delegation principle within the Change theme. A common trap is assuming the Change Authority is always required or that it replaces the Project Board entirely—remember, the Board always retains ultimate accountability. For a memory tip, think of the Change Authority as a “deputy” with a limited checkbook: the Board sets the spending limit, and the deputy signs off within that boundary.
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume the Change Authority is mandatory or always the Project Manager, confusing it with the Change Control approach or the Project Manager's responsibilities, when PRINCE2 explicitly makes it an optional delegation by the Project Board.
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
✓
The Change Authority is an optional role
The Change Authority role is optional in PRINCE2. It is only established if the Project Board decides to delegate authority for making change decisions within defined limits, rather than handling all change requests themselves.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The Change Authority is mandatory in all projects
Why it's wrong here
It is optional.
- ✓
The Change Authority is an optional role
Why this is correct
Correct.
- ✓
The Change Authority can be delegated by the Project Board
Why this is correct
Correct.
- ✗
The Change Authority is always the Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
It can be someone else.
- ✗
The Change Authority must include the Senior User
Why it's wrong here
Not necessarily.
Go deeper
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on PRINCE2F
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. Which TWO of the following statements about the Change Authority role are correct?
medium- A.The Change Authority is appointed by the Project Manager
- ✓ B.The Change Authority helps to reduce the burden on the Project Board
- C.The Change Authority is always a single person
- D.The Change Authority is a mandatory role in PRINCE2
- ✓ E.The Change Authority can authorize changes within agreed limits
Why B: The Change Authority is an optional role that can be set up to make decisions on change requests within agreed limits, thereby relieving the Project Board from reviewing every change.
Variation 2. Which TWO of the following statements about the Change Authority role in PRINCE2 are correct?
medium- A.The Change Authority must be a single individual
- ✓ B.The Change Authority is delegated by the Project Board to make decisions on change requests within agreed tolerances
- ✓ C.The Change Authority is an optional role
- D.The Change Authority is responsible for updating the Project Plan
- E.The Change Authority cannot approve changes that affect the Business Case
Why B: The Change Authority role is explicitly delegated by the Project Board to make decisions on change requests within agreed tolerances. This delegation allows the Change Authority to approve or reject changes without requiring the Project Board to convene for every minor change, streamlining the change control process while keeping decisions within predefined limits.
Variation 3. Which THREE of the following are true about the role of the Change Authority?
hard- ✓ A.It has the authority to approve change requests within limits set by the Project Board
- B.It is responsible for raising all Requests for Change
- C.It is responsible for maintaining the Configuration Item Records
- ✓ D.It is an optional role in PRINCE2
- ✓ E.It can be a person or a group
Why A: The Change Authority is an optional role delegated by the Project Board to make decisions on change requests within defined limits. They can approve RFCs up to a certain cost or impact. They are not responsible for configuration management or raising RFCs.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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