Quick Answer
The answer is the Manage by stages principle. This is correct because PRINCE2 mandates that a project be divided into discrete management stages, each ending with a formal review and approval of the stage plan before proceeding to the next. When scope changes are implemented informally without passing through a stage boundary, the project bypasses the required control points, breaking the principle’s core requirement for planned, monitored, and approved progress. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this scenario tests your ability to recognize that any unapproved work mid-stage—whether scope creep or informal changes—directly violates stage-based management, not just change control. A common trap is confusing this with the Manage by exception principle, but remember: stages are about *when* you review, exceptions are about *what* you escalate. Memory tip: think of a stage as a checkpoint—if you skip the checkpoint, you break the stage.
This PRINCE2F practice question tests your understanding of overview of prince2 and principles. 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.
During a project, a key stakeholder raises a concern that the project scope has expanded significantly without formal approval. The project manager realizes that changes have been implemented informally. Which PRINCE2 principle has been violated?
Defined roles and responsibilities
Why wrong: Roles might have been defined.
Continued business justification
Why wrong: The business case might still be valid.
Manage by stages
Changes must be managed within stage boundaries.
Learn from experience
Why wrong: Lessons are not the primary concern.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Manage by stages
The scenario describes scope changes being implemented without formal approval, which violates the 'Manage by stages' principle. PRINCE2 requires that a project be planned, monitored, and controlled on a stage-by-stage basis, with each stage ending in a formal review and approval before proceeding. Implementing changes informally bypasses stage boundaries and the associated management controls, directly breaking this principle.
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.
Defined roles and responsibilities
Why it's wrong here
Roles might have been defined.
Continued business justification
Why it's wrong here
The business case might still be valid.
Manage by stages
Why this is correct
Changes must be managed within stage boundaries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Learn from experience
Why it's wrong here
Lessons are not the primary concern.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'Manage by stages' with 'Defined roles and responsibilities' because they think the project manager should have formally approved the change, but the principle violated is specifically about stage-based control, not role definition.
Detailed technical explanation
Under PRINCE2, each management stage ends with a stage boundary assessment, where the project board reviews progress, approves the next stage plan, and formally authorizes any scope changes. Implementing changes informally circumvents this control point, which is designed to prevent uncontrolled scope creep and ensure that every change is evaluated against the business case. In real-world scenarios, this often leads to budget overruns and missed deadlines because the project manager loses visibility of the true project status.
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
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FAQ
Overview of PRINCE2 and Principles — This question tests Overview of PRINCE2 and Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Manage by stages — The scenario describes scope changes being implemented without formal approval, which violates the 'Manage by stages' principle. PRINCE2 requires that a project be planned, monitored, and controlled on a stage-by-stage basis, with each stage ending in a formal review and approval before proceeding. Implementing changes informally bypasses stage boundaries and the associated management controls, directly breaking this principle.
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.
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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. A project to build a new bridge is underway. The project board has decided to use a stage plan for the next stage rather than a detailed Gantt chart for the entire project. This approach aligns with which PRINCE2 principle?
mediumWhy D: The decision to use a stage plan for the next stage rather than a detailed Gantt chart for the entire project directly reflects the 'Manage by stages' principle. This principle requires that the project board only plans in detail for the immediate next stage, while higher-level plans cover the remainder of the project, enabling control and flexibility.
Variation 2. Refer to the exhibit. Which principle is missing from the configuration?
mediumWhy A: The PRINCE2 principle 'Manage by stages' is missing from the exhibit because the configuration lists only 'Continued business justification,' 'Learn from experience,' 'Roles and responsibilities,' 'Manage by exception,' 'Focus on products,' and 'Tailor to suit the project environment.' The seven PRINCE2 principles are all required, and 'Manage by stages' is the one omitted. Without it, the project lacks the mandatory planning and control mechanism that divides the project into discrete management stages, each with its own plan and review points.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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