The answer is authorizing deviations from stage tolerances, along with approving stage plans, as these are two key responsibilities of the Project Board in PRINCE2. The Board holds ultimate accountability for the project’s success, providing direction and making critical decisions that fall outside the Project Manager’s authority. Specifically, the Board approves the stage plans that define work for each management stage, and it alone can authorize any deviation from the tolerances set for time, cost, quality, or scope within a stage. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this question tests your understanding of the management levels and their distinct duties—a common trap is confusing Board responsibilities with those of the Project Manager or Team Manager. For example, managing Work Packages belongs to the Team Manager, while preparing Highlight Reports is the Project Manager’s job. A useful memory tip is to think of the Board as the “big picture” decision-makers: they authorize the project, approve stage plans, and handle tolerance exceptions, while the Project Manager handles day-to-day execution and reporting.
PRINCE2F People: organizations, teams, and leadership Practice Question
This PRINCE2F practice question tests your understanding of people: organizations, teams, and leadership. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Approving the Stage Plan for the next stage
The Project Board is responsible for authorizing the project, providing direction, and making key decisions. Option A (approve stage plans) and Option C (authorize deviations from stage tolerances) are Board responsibilities. Option B (manage Work Packages) is Team Manager; Option D (prepare Highlight Reports) is PM; Option E (maintain the Business Case) is PM with SRO accountability.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Approving the Stage Plan for the next stage
Why this is correct
The Board approves Stage Plans.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Preparing the Highlight Report
Why it's wrong here
The Project Manager prepares the Highlight Report.
✗
Maintaining the Business Case
Why it's wrong here
The Project Manager maintains it; the SRO is accountable.
✗
Managing the delivery of Work Packages
Why it's wrong here
That is the Team Manager's responsibility.
✓
Authorizing deviations from stage tolerances
Why this is correct
The Board authorizes any tolerance deviations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PRINCE2F exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PRINCE2F exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
People: organizations, teams, and leadership — This question tests People: organizations, teams, and leadership — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Approving the Stage Plan for the next stage — The Project Board is responsible for authorizing the project, providing direction, and making key decisions. Option A (approve stage plans) and Option C (authorize deviations from stage tolerances) are Board responsibilities. Option B (manage Work Packages) is Team Manager; Option D (prepare Highlight Reports) is PM; Option E (maintain the Business Case) is PM with SRO accountability.
What should I do if I get this PRINCE2F question wrong?
Identify which PRINCE2F exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board in PRINCE2?
hard
✓ A.Authorizing the start of each stage
✓ B.Approving the Stage Plans
C.Authorizing work packages
✓ D.Providing overall direction and guidance
E.Day-to-day management of the project
Why A: The Project Board provides overall direction, approves stage plans, and authorizes stage boundaries. Day-to-day management and work package authorization are PM responsibilities.
Variation 2. Which THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board?
medium
A.Manage day-to-day activities
✓ B.Provide overall direction and control
C.Produce Checkpoint Reports
✓ D.Authorize deviations from tolerances
✓ E.Approve Stage Plans
Why B: The Board approves stage plans (A), authorizes tolerances (C), and makes key decisions (E). B and D are PM responsibilities.
Variation 3. Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board?
medium
A.Specify the user requirements
✓ B.Authorize the Project Plan
✓ C.Authorize Stage Plans
D.Maintain the Business Case
E.Produce the Project Plan
Why B: The Project Board provides direction and control. Options A and B are correct. Option C is the PM's responsibility, D is the Senior User's, E is the SRO's.
Variation 4. Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board?
Why A: The Project Board is responsible for overall project governance, including authorizing expenditure beyond the delegated authority of the Project Manager. This ensures that financial control remains at the senior management level, preventing unauthorized spending that could jeopardize the project's budget.
Variation 5. Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board?
medium
A.Write Work Packages
B.Perform Project Assurance
C.Manage the project on a day-to-day basis
✓ D.Provide resources and authorize funds
✓ E.Authorize stage plans and major deviations
Why D: Option D is correct because the Project Board is responsible for providing resources and authorizing funds for the project. This is a key duty of the board, as they own the business case and must ensure the project remains viable by approving the necessary budget and resource allocation.
Variation 6. Which THREE of the following are responsibilities of the Project Board?
hard
✓ A.Defining project tolerances
B.Preparing the Highlight Report
✓ C.Authorizing the start of each management stage
✓ D.Approving the Project Plan
E.Managing the team's day-to-day activities
Why A: The Project Board is responsible for strategic decisions: approving plans, defining tolerances, and authorizing stage boundaries. Day-to-day management is the PM's role.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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