PRINCE2F People: organizations, teams, and leadership Practice Question
What is the difference between a Request for Change and an Off-specification?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the proactive nature of an RFC (a proposal for change) with the reactive nature of an Off-specification (a deviation that has already occurred), often mixing up the timing or assuming they are interchangeable terms.
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
✓
A Request for Change is a proposal for a modification; an Off-specification is a deviation that has occurred
In PRINCE2, a Request for Change (RFC) is a formal proposal to modify a product, baseline, or plan before it is completed, while an Off-specification is a formal notification that a product has deviated from its specification after it has been produced. The key distinction is timing and intent: RFCs are proactive modifications, whereas Off-specifications are reactive deviations that have already occurred.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
There is no difference; they are synonyms
Why it's wrong here
They are distinct concepts in PRINCE2.
- ✗
A Request for Change is about schedule changes; an Off-specification is about quality issues
Why it's wrong here
Both can relate to any aspect of a product; schedule changes are not the sole focus of RFCs.
- ✓
A Request for Change is a proposal for a modification; an Off-specification is a deviation that has occurred
Why this is correct
An RFC is a request to change an approved product; an Off-specification is a non-conformance already present.
- ✗
A Request for Change is raised by the Project Manager; an Off-specification is raised by the Team Manager
Why it's wrong here
Both can be raised by various roles; the distinction is not about who raises them.
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