PRINCE2F People: organizations, teams, and leadership Practice Question
What is the difference between a Request for Change and an Off-specification?
⚠ Common exam trap
PeopleCert often tests the confusion between 'change' and 'deviation' by presenting options that blur the roles of who raises each issue or the outcome, leading candidates to mistakenly think they are interchangeable or have fixed approval outcomes.
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 seeks to change a baseline; an Off-specification identifies a deviation from what was specified
A Request for Change (RFC) is a formal proposal to modify a baseline (e.g., a product description, project plan, or scope), while an Off-specification (Off-spec) identifies a situation where a product or component has deviated from its approved specification or baseline. In PRINCE2, an RFC seeks to change what was agreed, whereas an Off-spec reports that something is not as specified. This distinction is critical for managing baselines and controlling issues within the organization's change control procedures.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A Request for Change is always approved; an Off-specification is always rejected
Why it's wrong here
Both can be approved or rejected.
- ✗
A Request for Change is raised by the Project Manager; an Off-specification is raised by the team
Why it's wrong here
Both can be raised by anyone.
- ✓
A Request for Change seeks to change a baseline; an Off-specification identifies a deviation from what was specified
Why this is correct
Correct distinction.
- ✗
They are the same thing
Why it's wrong here
They are distinct concepts.
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