- A
The Project Manager
Why wrong: The PM maintains the Business Case but is not accountable.
- B
The Executive
Correct: the Executive owns the Business Case.
- C
The Senior User
Why wrong: The Senior User is accountable for benefits but not overall business justification.
- D
The Project Board
Why wrong: The Board as a whole is collectively responsible, but the Executive has single-point accountability.
Question 1,671 of 1,731
Executive Accountability in PRINCE2: Who Owns the Business Case?
This PRINCE2F practice question tests your understanding of prince2 practices. 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.
Which role is accountable for the business justification of a PRINCE2 project?
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 Executive
The Executive is the single role on the PRINCE2 project board who is ultimately accountable for the business justification. This includes ensuring the project remains viable, approving the business case, and securing funding. The PRINCE2 manual explicitly assigns ownership of the business case to the Executive, not to the Project Manager or the board collectively.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
The PM maintains the Business Case but is not accountable.
- ✓
The Executive
Why this is correct
Correct: the Executive owns the Business Case.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The Senior User
Why it's wrong here
The Senior User is accountable for benefits but not overall business justification.
- ✗
The Project Board
Why it's wrong here
The Board as a whole is collectively responsible, but the Executive has single-point accountability.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The PRINCE2 Foundation exam often tests the distinction between responsibility and accountability, leading candidates to incorrectly select the Project Manager because they confuse the day-to-day management of the business case with ultimate ownership.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In PRINCE2, the business justification is documented in the Business Case, which is created during the Starting Up a Project process and refined throughout the project. The Executive must formally approve the Business Case at the end of the Initiation Stage and at every stage boundary, ensuring the project remains aligned with corporate strategy. A real-world scenario where this matters is when a project faces budget cuts: only the Executive can decide to continue or stop the project based on revised business justification.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PRINCE2F question test?
PRINCE2 Practices — This question tests PRINCE2 Practices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Executive — The Executive is the single role on the PRINCE2 project board who is ultimately accountable for the business justification. This includes ensuring the project remains viable, approving the business case, and securing funding. The PRINCE2 manual explicitly assigns ownership of the business case to the Executive, not to the Project Manager or the board collectively.
What should I do if I get this PRINCE2F question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 role is accountable for the project's success and chairs the Project Board?
easy- A.Senior User
- ✓ B.Executive
- C.Project Manager
- D.Senior Supplier
Why B: The Executive is the single individual accountable for the project's success and chairs the Project Board in PRINCE2. This role provides the business justification, secures funding, and makes key strategic decisions, ensuring the project remains viable and aligned with organizational objectives.
Variation 2. In PRINCE2, which role is accountable for the business justification of a project?
easy- A.Senior Supplier
- ✓ B.Executive
- C.Senior User
- D.Project Manager
Why B: The Executive (Senior Responsible Owner) is accountable for the business justification.
Variation 3. Which role is accountable for the business justification of a PRINCE2 project?
easy- ✓ A.Executive
- B.Senior User
- C.Project Manager
- D.Project Board
Why A: The Executive (SRO) is ultimately accountable for the business case and justification.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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