PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question
During the Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager identifies an issue that could affect the project's ability to meet its agreed tolerances. What is the first action the Project Manager should take?
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
✓
Record the issue in the Issue Register
The PM must first record the issue in the Issue Register and then decide on the appropriate response. If the issue could breach tolerances, an Exception Report is needed, but the immediate step is to log it.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the Project Plan to reflect the impact
Why it's wrong here
Amending the Project Plan first bypasses issue capture, impact analysis and the agreed change control route. It is tempting because plans do need updating after approved changes, but PRINCE2 requires logging the issue and assessing it before any baseline or plan is modified.
- ✗
Instruct the Team Manager to take corrective action
Why it's wrong here
Corrective action cannot be instructed before the issue is formally captured and assessed; PRINCE2 requires raising an issue report and taking it through the issue resolution procedure, which may escalate to the Project Board if tolerances are threatened. Instructing a Team Manager is tempting because corrective action is a legitimate Controlling a Stage activity, but only after the issue has been logged and assessed.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the Project Board via an Exception Report
Why it's wrong here
Escalation happens only after the issue is logged, assessed and, if it breaches stage tolerances, raised as an exception. It is tempting because board escalation is the eventual route, but PRINCE2 requires capturing the issue and assessing impact before any escalation.
- ✓
Record the issue in the Issue Register
Why this is correct
Recording the issue in the Issue Register captures it formally before any assessment or escalation. This satisfies the Controlling a Stage requirement to log issues as they arise, enabling subsequent impact analysis and decisions on corrective action.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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. During the Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager identifies that the project is forecast to exceed the agreed cost tolerance for the current stage. What should the Project Manager do?
medium- A.Close the project immediately as the Business Case is no longer viable
- ✓ B.Raise an Exception Report to the Project Board and await their direction before proceeding
- C.Increase the project budget to absorb the additional cost and continue with the current Stage Plan
- D.Continue with the current Stage Plan and report the cost overrun in the next Highlight Report
Why B: When a stage is forecast to exceed its cost tolerance, the Project Manager must raise an Exception Report to the Project Board and await their direction. The Project Board owns the stage tolerance and must decide whether to authorize additional funds, change scope, or take other action.
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.