PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Practices Practice Question
What is the difference between a Request for Change (RFC) and an Off-specification (Off-spec)?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates confuse the purpose of an RFC and an Off-spec, often assuming that an RFC is always for enhancements and an Off-spec is always for faults, when in fact both can address problems or improvements depending on whether the baseline is being changed or a deviation is being reported.
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
✓
An RFC is a request for something new not in the baseline; an Off-spec is a failure to meet the baseline
A Request for Change (RFC) is a formal proposal to modify a product or process that is already baselined, typically for enhancements or corrective actions, while an Off-specification (Off-spec) is a formal notification that a product or component does not meet its agreed specification or baseline. In PRINCE2, an RFC seeks to change the baseline, whereas an Off-spec reports a deviation from the baseline 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.
- ✗
An RFC is always approved by the Project Board; an Off-spec is approved by the Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
Approval levels vary based on delegated authority.
- ✗
There is no difference; they are synonyms
Why it's wrong here
They are distinct issue types.
- ✗
An Off-spec is always a fault; an RFC is always an enhancement
Why it's wrong here
Off-spec could be a missing product, and RFC could be a request to fix a fault.
- ✓
An RFC is a request for something new not in the baseline; an Off-spec is a failure to meet the baseline
Why this is correct
This is the key distinction.
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