PRINCE2F Overview of PRINCE2 and Principles Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often 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.
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
✓
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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.
- ✗
Learn from experience
Why it's wrong here
Lessons are not the primary concern.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,599 original PRINCE2F practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 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. 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?
medium- A.Continued business justification
- B.Learn from experience
- C.Focus on products
- ✓ D.Manage by stages
Why 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?
medium- ✓ A.Manage by stages
- B.Focus on products
- C.Manage by exception
- D.All principles are applied
Why 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.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.