PRINCE2 Processes →mediumMultiple Select

PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question

During a stage, the Project Manager is reviewing progress and needs to decide how to respond to emerging issues. According to PRINCE2, which TWO activities are part of the Controlling a Stage process? (Choose two.)

⚠ Common exam trap

The trap here is mixing project-level initiation products and appointments with stage-level control activities, because both involve the Project Manager and the Project Board but occur at different points in the process model.

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

✓

Producing Highlight Reports for the Project Board.

Controlling a Stage covers the day-to-day management of a stage: authorising work, monitoring progress, managing issues and risks, taking corrective action, reporting via Highlight Reports and escalating exceptions. Producing Highlight Reports and taking corrective action both belong squarely to this process, whereas appointing the Executive, authorising the Project Initiation Documentation and creating the Benefits Review Plan belong to earlier project-level processes.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Appointing the Executive and Project Manager at project start.
Why it's wrong here
Appointing the Executive and Project Manager occurs during Starting Up a Project, when the project mandate is turned into a viable brief. These appointments are foundational and happen before the project is formally initiated. They are not repeated during Controlling a Stage, where the focus is on monitoring delivery, managing issues and keeping the current stage on track.
✓
Producing Highlight Reports for the Project Board.
Why this is correct
Producing Highlight Reports is a defined Controlling a Stage activity. These reports provide the Project Board with a regular summary of stage progress, status, issues and forecasts, supporting the manage by exception principle. They are issued at the frequency agreed in the Communication Management Approach, giving the Board enough information to oversee the project without needing day-to-day involvement.
✗
Creating the Benefits Review Plan for measuring outcomes.
Why it's wrong here
The Benefits Review Plan is created during Initiating a Project as part of the Project Initiation Documentation, then updated as needed. It defines how and when benefits will be measured after the project. It is not a Controlling a Stage activity, which centres on day-to-day progress monitoring, issue handling and reporting rather than establishing the benefits measurement approach.
✓
Taking corrective action to keep the stage within tolerance.
Why this is correct
Taking corrective action is a core Controlling a Stage activity. When progress deviates from the Stage Plan, the Project Manager reviews the situation and implements actions to bring the stage back within its delegated tolerances. This keeps the project aligned with the approved plan and avoids unnecessary escalation, provided the deviation remains within the authority granted by the Project Board.
✗
Authorising the Project Initiation Documentation for the project.
Why it's wrong here
Authorising the Project Initiation Documentation is a Project Board decision within Directing a Project, following its preparation in Initiating a Project. It is a one-off approval early in the project, not a recurring activity of Controlling a Stage. Including it here confuses project-level initiation decisions with the routine stage-level monitoring and control performed by the Project Manager.

Go deeper

PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

Related to this question