PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question
What is the difference between the Starting Up a Project (SU) and Initiating a Project (IP) processes?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the outputs of SU and IP, often thinking the Project Brief is produced in IP or that the PID is produced in SU, but PRINCE2 explicitly assigns the Project Brief to SU and the PID to IP.
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
✓
SU produces the Project Brief, while IP produces the Project Initiation Documentation
Starting Up a Project (SU) is the pre-project process that produces the Project Brief, which provides the outline business case and project approach needed to decide whether to proceed. Initiating a Project (IP) is the next process that produces the detailed Project Initiation Documentation (PID), including the full business case, project plan, and risk register, to establish a solid foundation for the project. The key difference is that SU creates the high-level justification and approach, while IP creates the comprehensive management documentation required for execution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SU produces the Project Brief, while IP produces the Project Initiation Documentation
Why this is correct
Correct. SU outputs the Project Brief; IP outputs the PID.
- ✗
SU is mandatory, while IP is optional
Why it's wrong here
Both processes are mandatory in PRINCE2.
- ✗
SU is performed by the Project Manager, while IP is performed by the Project Board
Why it's wrong here
Both are led by the Project Manager with input from the Project Board.
- ✗
SU appoints the Project Board, while IP appoints the Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
Both appointments happen in SU, not IP.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,599 original PRINCE2F practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
8 more ways this is tested on PRINCE2F
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. What is the primary difference between Starting Up a Project (SU) and Initiating a Project (IP)?
hard- A.SU produces the Project Plan; IP produces the Stage Plan
- ✓ B.SU is performed before the Project Board authorizes initiation; IP is performed after
- C.SU is optional; IP is mandatory
- D.SU appoints the Project Manager; IP appoints the Executive
Why B: The primary difference is that Starting Up a Project (SU) is a pre-project process performed before the Project Board authorizes initiation, while Initiating a Project (IP) is the first process after the Project Board gives authorization. SU ensures the project is viable and creates the Project Brief, whereas IP develops the detailed Project Plan and Business Case for the Project Board's approval.
Variation 2. What is the difference between the Starting Up a Project (SU) process and the Initiating a Project (IP) process?
hard- A.SU is optional; IP is mandatory
- B.SU is performed by the Project Board; IP is performed by the Project Manager
- ✓ C.SU produces the Project Brief; IP produces the Project Initiation Documentation (PID)
- D.SU includes detailed planning; IP only produces high-level plans
Why C: SU is a pre-project process to determine if the project is viable before committing to detailed planning. IP formally establishes the project foundation and produces the PID. Key difference: SU decides whether to proceed; IP creates the detailed plans and strategies.
Variation 3. What is the key difference between the Starting Up a Project process and the Initiating a Project process?
hard- ✓ A.Starting Up a Project is performed before the project is formally initiated; Initiating a Project establishes the project baseline
- B.Initiating a Project is optional; Starting Up a Project is mandatory
- C.Starting Up a Project produces the Project Plan; Initiating a Project produces the Project Brief
- D.Initiating a Project involves the Project Board; Starting Up a Project does not
Why A: The key difference is that Starting Up a Project (SU) is a pre-project process that occurs before the project is formally initiated, focusing on creating the Project Brief and appointing the Executive and Project Manager. Initiating a Project (IP) is the first process after the project is authorized, where the detailed Project Plan, Business Case, and Risk Register are developed, and the Project Initiation Documentation (PID) is created to establish the project baseline. Thus, SU sets the stage for IP, while IP formalizes the project's foundation.
Variation 4. What is the difference between the Starting Up a Project process and the Initiating a Project process?
medium- ✓ A.SU ensures basic conditions exist before initiation; IP establishes the solid foundations for the project
- B.SU produces the PID while IP produces the Project Brief
- C.SU is performed by the Project Board while IP is performed by the Project Manager
- D.There is no significant difference; they are the same process under different names
Why A: The Starting Up a Project (SU) process is a pre-project activity that ensures the project has a viable business justification and the necessary basic conditions (e.g., a clear project mandate, appointed executive, and project manager) before any detailed planning begins. The Initiating a Project (IP) process then takes this foundation and develops the detailed Project Initiation Documentation (PID), including the business case, risk register, and project plan, to establish solid management controls for the project. Option A correctly captures this sequential relationship: SU verifies readiness, while IP builds the detailed governance framework.
Variation 5. What is the difference between the Starting Up a Project process and the Initiating a Project process?
hard- A.SU is for small projects; IP is for large projects
- B.SU is optional; IP is mandatory
- ✓ C.SU produces the Project Brief; IP produces the Project Initiation Documentation
- D.SU is done by the Project Board; IP is done by the Project Manager
Why C: The Starting Up a Project (SU) process is a pre-project process that produces the Project Brief, which outlines the project's justification and high-level scope. The Initiating a Project (IP) process is the first process after project authorization and produces the Project Initiation Documentation (PID), which provides a detailed foundation for the project and is used to obtain approval to proceed. Option C correctly identifies these distinct outputs.
Variation 6. What is the difference between the Starting Up a Project process and the Initiating a Project process?
hard- A.SU creates the Business Case; IP approves it
- ✓ B.SU produces the Project Brief; IP produces the PID
- C.SU appoints the Project Board; IP appoints the Project Manager
- D.SU is done by the Project Board; IP is done by the Project Manager
Why B: The Starting Up a Project (SU) process produces the Project Brief, which outlines the project's scope, objectives, and feasibility. The Initiating a Project (IP) process then uses that brief to develop the detailed Project Initiation Documentation (PID), which includes the Business Case, plans, and risk assessment. This distinction is fundamental because SU is a pre-project process to ensure there is a viable idea, while IP is the detailed planning phase that creates the management documents needed to proceed.
Variation 7. What is the key difference between the Starting Up a Project (SU) and Initiating a Project (IP) processes?
hard- ✓ A.SU is done before the project is formally initiated; IP establishes the project's foundations
- B.SU involves the Project Board; IP involves the Project Manager only
- C.SU is optional; IP is mandatory
- D.SU produces the PID; IP produces the Project Brief
Why A: The Starting Up a Project (SU) process occurs before the project is formally initiated, focusing on verifying the project's viability and creating the Project Brief. The Initiating a Project (IP) process then establishes the project's foundations by creating the Project Initiation Documentation (PID), which includes detailed plans and controls. Thus, the key difference is that SU is a pre-initiation process, while IP formally establishes the project's management foundation.
Variation 8. What is the difference between the Starting Up a Project (SU) and Initiating a Project (IP) processes?
hard- A.SU is performed by the Project Board; IP is performed by the Project Manager
- ✓ B.SU produces the Project Brief; IP produces the Project Initiation Documentation
- C.SU authorises the project; IP authorises the initiation stage
- D.There is no difference; they are the same process
Why B: SU is a pre-project process to decide if the project is viable; IP formally establishes the project and produces the PID.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PRINCE2F practice question is part of Courseiva's free PeopleCert certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PRINCE2F exam.