The answer is that responsibility for tasks can be delegated, while accountability cannot. In PRINCE2, accountability is a singular, non-transferable ownership for the project’s success, held by the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), who owns the Business Case and cannot pass that ultimate accountability to anyone else. Responsibility, by contrast, is the obligation to perform specific tasks and can be delegated to others, such as the Project Manager being responsible for day-to-day management without being accountable for overall project success. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this distinction tests your understanding of the project management team roles, often appearing in questions about the SRO versus the Project Manager. A common trap is confusing the SRO’s accountability with the Project Manager’s responsibility, so remember the memory tip: accountability is like a single anchor that cannot be moved, while responsibility is a rope that can be handed off.
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 statements correctly describe the relationship between accountability and responsibility in PRINCE2?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The SRO is accountable for the project's success.
In PRINCE2, the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is the single point of accountability for the project's success, as they own the Business Case and are ultimately responsible for ensuring the project delivers the expected benefits. The Project Manager is responsible for managing the project on a day-to-day basis but is not accountable for overall success. Option C correctly identifies the SRO's accountability, and option E correctly states that responsibility (for tasks) can be delegated, while accountability cannot.
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.
✗
The Project Manager is accountable for the project's success.
Why it's wrong here
Accountability rests with the SRO.
✗
The Project Manager is accountable for the Business Case.
Why it's wrong here
The SRO owns the Business Case.
✓
The SRO is accountable for the project's success.
Why this is correct
The SRO is ultimately accountable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Accountability can be delegated to the Project Manager.
Why it's wrong here
Accountability cannot be delegated.
✓
Responsibility for tasks can be delegated.
Why this is correct
Responsibility can be delegated to team members.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse accountability with responsibility, assuming the Project Manager is accountable for project success because they manage the work, but PRINCE2 explicitly assigns accountability to the SRO and allows only responsibility to be delegated.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PRINCE2 distinguishes between accountability (the answerability for the success or failure of the project) and responsibility (the obligation to perform assigned tasks). The SRO's accountability for the Business Case means they must approve any changes to it and are answerable for the project's viability. In practice, if a project fails, the SRO is held accountable by the board, even if the Project Manager was responsible for execution; this prevents diffusion of ownership and ensures clear governance.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: The SRO is accountable for the project's success. — In PRINCE2, the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is the single point of accountability for the project's success, as they own the Business Case and are ultimately responsible for ensuring the project delivers the expected benefits. The Project Manager is responsible for managing the project on a day-to-day basis but is not accountable for overall success. Option C correctly identifies the SRO's accountability, and option E correctly states that responsibility (for tasks) can be delegated, while accountability cannot.
What should I do if I get this PRINCE2F question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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. In the RACI model used in PRINCE2, what is the difference between accountability (A) and responsibility (R)?
hard
A.They are interchangeable terms
B.Accountability means performing the task; responsibility means approving the outcome
C.Accountability is delegated to the Project Manager; responsibility is retained by the Project Board
✓ D.Accountability means ultimate ownership; responsibility means performing the task
Why D: Accountability means ultimate ownership and final decision-making authority, while responsibility means performing the work. Option A is correct.
Variation 2. In PRINCE2, what is the difference between accountability and responsibility?
hard
A.There is no difference; the terms are synonyms.
✓ B.Accountability is ultimately held by one person; responsibility can be shared or delegated.
C.Accountability is assigned to individuals; responsibility is shared among teams.
D.Accountability can be delegated; responsibility cannot.
Why B: In PRINCE2, accountability refers to the ultimate answerability for the successful completion of a deliverable or objective, and it is always held by a single person (e.g., the project manager is accountable for the project). Responsibility, in contrast, can be shared among multiple team members or delegated to others who perform the work. Option B correctly captures this distinction, which is fundamental to the PRINCE2 management product structure and role definitions.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
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