Quick Answer

The answer is Managing a Stage Boundary and Directing a Project. These two processes are the only ones where the Project Board makes key decisions because PRINCE2 separates management from delivery: the Project Manager handles day-to-day work in processes like Controlling a Stage, while the Board retains authority over stage transitions and overall project approval. Directing a Project is the board’s decision-making process for high-level authorizations such as initiating the project, approving the project plan, and closing the project. Managing a Stage Boundary specifically involves the board reviewing the End Stage Report and authorizing the next stage, making it a critical decision point for controlling risk and continued business justification. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this distinction tests your understanding of the four levels of management and which processes belong to the directing level versus the managing level. A common trap is confusing Managing a Stage Boundary with Controlling a Stage, but remember: the Board decides at boundaries; the Manager controls within them. A useful memory tip is “Board at the Border”—the Board only steps in at stage boundaries and project start/end.