PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Practices Practice Question
What is the purpose of a Product Status Account?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the Product Status Account (a status report) with the Product Breakdown Structure (a planning tool) or the Product Description (a quality specification), as all three involve 'products' but serve distinct purposes in PRINCE2.
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
✓
To provide information about the status of products in the project.
The Product Status Account is a PRINCE2 management product that provides a snapshot of the status of all products within a project at a given point in time. Its purpose is to give stakeholders and the project manager a consolidated view of which products are complete, in progress, or have issues, enabling informed decision-making and control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To define the product breakdown structure.
Why it's wrong here
A Product Status Account reports the current state of products against their baselines, not their decomposition. Defining the product breakdown structure is the purpose of the Product Breakdown Structure technique within the plans theme, so this confuses a status-reporting record with a planning technique.
- ✓
To provide information about the status of products in the project.
Why this is correct
The Product Status Account reports the current status of products within a defined scope, such as a stage or the whole project. It satisfies the stem by giving the Project Manager information on product progress, quality and approval state.
- ✗
To authorize changes to a product baseline.
Why it's wrong here
A Product Status Account is a read-only report of product status; it holds no authority to approve changes. Authorising changes to a product baseline is the responsibility of the Change Authority under the change control approach, so this option misassigns a decision-making duty to a reporting artefact.
- ✗
To describe the quality criteria for a product.
Why it's wrong here
A Product Status Account reports the status of products, such as their current state and version, not their quality criteria, which belong in a Product Description. It is tempting because both documents concern products, but quality criteria are defined at product specification, not in a status report.
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Same concept, more angles
3 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. In the Change practice, what is the purpose of a Product Status Account?
hard- A.To record configuration item records
- ✓ B.To report on the current status of one or more products
- C.To track issues
- D.To authorize changes to products
Why B: In PRINCE2's Change practice, a Product Status Account is a report that provides information on the current status of one or more products — for example, their version, status (draft, approved, baselined), and any changes applied. It is a reporting/visibility artifact, not a record-keeping or authorization mechanism. It answers 'what state are these products in right now?' for the project board or change authority.
Variation 2. What is the purpose of the Product Status Account?
medium- A.To approve changes to baselined products
- B.To document product descriptions
- ✓ C.To report on the status of products in the project
- D.To record changes to products
Why C: A Product Status Account provides information about the status of one or more products, including version, status, and location.
Variation 3. What is the purpose of the Product Status Account?
easy- A.To update the configuration management system
- ✓ B.To summarize the status of products in the project
- C.To approve changes to baselined products
- D.To record the quality review results of a product
Why B: The Product Status Account is a PRINCE2 configuration management record that provides a snapshot of the current status of all products (or a subset) within the project, showing information such as version, status, and stage. It is used by the Project Manager to report on product status, particularly for checkpoint and highlight reporting, and to support the configuration management strategy. It is not a tool for approving changes or recording quality review results, which are handled by other PRINCE2 records.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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