PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing Project Manager responsibilities with Project Board responsibilities. Reviewing and updating the Business Case (B) and giving ad-hoc direction (D) are Project Board responsibilities, not responsibilities of the Project Manager during Controlling a Stage.
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
✓
Reporting Highlights to the Project Board
During the Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager is responsible for reporting Highlights to the Project Board (A), authorising Work Packages to Team Managers (C), and reviewing the progress of stage activities against the Stage Plan (E). Option B (reviewing and updating the Business Case) is a responsibility of the Executive/Project Board, not the Project Manager during this process. Option D (giving ad-hoc direction to the Project Manager) is performed by the Project Board, not the Project Manager.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Reporting Highlights to the Project Board
Why this is correct
Highlight Reports are prepared and sent by the PM to the Board in CS.
- ✗
Reviewing the Business Case and updating it as necessary
Why it's wrong here
The Business Case is reviewed and updated during SB, not CS.
- ✓
Authorising Work Packages
Why this is correct
The PM authorises Work Packages during CS.
- ✗
Giving ad-hoc direction to the Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
Ad-hoc direction is given by the Project Board in DP, not by the PM.
- ✓
Reviewing the progress of stage activities
Why this is correct
The PM reviews progress regularly in CS.
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Same concept, more angles
6 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. Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- A.Review the Business Case and decide on stage tolerances
- ✓ B.Escalate issues that cannot be resolved within stage tolerances
- C.Approve the Project Plan
- D.Produce Checkpoint Reports
- ✓ E.Authorize Work Packages
Why B: In PRINCE2's Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager is responsible for authorizing Work Packages (option E), which formally delegates work to Team Managers and triggers the work to begin within the agreed tolerances. The Project Manager also escalates issues that cannot be resolved within stage tolerances (option B), raising an Exception Report to the Project Board when a stage or project tolerance is forecast to be exceeded. Option A is incorrect because reviewing the Business Case and setting stage tolerances is the Project Board's responsibility during the Directing a Project process (specifically at stage boundaries). Option C is incorrect because approving the Project Plan is a Project Board decision made during Initiating a Project/Directing a Project, not a Controlling a Stage activity. Option D is incorrect because Checkpoint Reports are produced by Team Managers, not the Project Manager, and are inputs the Project Manager uses to create Highlight Reports.
Variation 2. Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
medium- A.Produce the End Stage Report
- ✓ B.Authorize Work Packages
- ✓ C.Review the Business Case for continued viability
- D.Produce the Lessons Report
- E.Authorize project closure
Why B: In PRINCE2's Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager is responsible for authorizing Work Packages (option B), since this is how the Project Manager delegates the agreed work to the Team Manager and maintains control over delivery. The Project Manager must also review the Business Case for continued viability (option C) as part of the ongoing assurance that the project remains justified and aligned with the business objectives throughout the stage. Option A is incorrect because the End Stage Report is produced during Managing a Stage Boundary, not Controlling a Stage. Option D is incorrect because the Lessons Report is typically produced during Managing a Stage Boundary or Closing a Project. Option E is incorrect because authorizing project closure is a responsibility of the Project Board, not the Project Manager, and it occurs in the Closing a Project process.
Variation 3. Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- ✓ A.Review progress and take corrective action
- ✓ B.Authorize Work Packages
- C.Produce the End Project Report
- D.Produce Checkpoint Reports
- E.Authorize the stage plan
Why A: The Project Manager is responsible for reviewing progress against the stage plan and taking corrective action when deviations occur, as defined in the Controlling a Stage process. This ensures the stage remains within tolerance and aligns with the project plan.
Variation 4. Which THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- A.Produce Checkpoint Reports
- B.Authorise the next Stage Plan
- ✓ C.Review the stage status and take corrective action
- ✓ D.Produce Highlight Reports
- ✓ E.Authorise Work Packages
Why C: In PRINCE2's Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager is responsible for reviewing stage status and taking corrective action (C), which is the core of monitoring and controlling work against the Stage Plan and tolerances. The Project Manager also produces Highlight Reports (D), which are progress reports sent to the Project Board at agreed intervals during stage execution. Additionally, the Project Manager authorises Work Packages (E), delegating work to Team Managers with agreed tolerances and acceptance criteria. Option A (Produce Checkpoint Reports) is a Team Manager responsibility, not the Project Manager's. Option B (Authorise the next Stage Plan) belongs to the Project Board, which approves Stage Plans at stage boundaries, not the Project Manager during Controlling a Stage.
Variation 5. Which THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- ✓ A.Authorize Work Packages
- ✓ B.Review the progress of work packages
- C.Produce the Project Plan
- D.Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage
- ✓ E.Manage issues and risks
Why A: In PRINCE2's Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager is responsible for authorizing Work Packages (A), which formally delegates work to the Team Manager with agreed tolerances and is a core activity of controlling a stage. The Project Manager also reviews the progress of work packages (B) by monitoring work package status, checking progress against the Stage Plan, and taking corrective action where needed. Managing issues and risks (E) is likewise a Project Manager responsibility during Controlling a Stage, capturing, assessing, and escalating issues and risks as appropriate. Options C and D are incorrect because producing the Project Plan and producing the Stage Plan for the next stage belong to the Initiating a Project and Managing a Stage Boundary processes respectively, not to Controlling a Stage.
Variation 6. Which THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Manager during the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- ✓ A.Authorizing Work Packages
- B.Producing Checkpoint Reports
- C.Reviewing the Business Case
- ✓ D.Escalating issues and risks that exceed stage tolerances
- ✓ E.Reviewing the progress of the stage against the Stage Plan
Why A: During the Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager authorizes Work Packages to assign work to Team Managers or team members, ensuring that the work is formally allocated and controlled. This authorization is a key responsibility to maintain alignment with the Stage Plan and manage the delivery of products.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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