PRINCE2F People: organizations, teams, and leadership Practice Question
What is the difference between a Request for Change and an Off-specification?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often conflate the two concepts because both involve deviations from the plan, but PRINCE2 explicitly separates them by intent: RFCs are proactive changes, while Off-specs are reactive reports of non-compliance.
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 proposes a change to an agreed product; an Off-specification identifies a product that is not meeting its specification.
A Request for Change (RFC) is a formal proposal to modify an agreed product, baseline, or configuration item, while an Off-specification (Off-spec) is a notification that a product does not meet its agreed specification. In PRINCE2, these are distinct issue types: RFCs seek authorization for a change, whereas Off-specs report a deviation from the specification that must be resolved.
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 proposes a change to an agreed product; an Off-specification identifies a product that is not meeting its specification.
Why this is correct
This is the correct distinction.
- ✗
A Request for Change is about cost; an Off-specification is about quality.
Why it's wrong here
Both can involve cost, quality, or scope.
- ✗
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 any stakeholder.
- ✗
They are the same thing.
Why it's wrong here
They are different types of issues.
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