The Change Authority Role in PRINCE2 7 is a delegated responsibility within the project organization structure that enables efficient decision-making regarding changes and off-specifications during project execution. This role is established to prevent bottlenecks that would occur if the Project Bo…The Change Authority Role in PRINCE2 7 is a delegated responsibility within the project organization structure that enables efficient decision-making regarding changes and off-specifications during project execution. This role is established to prevent bottlenecks that would occur if the Project Board had to approve every single change request.
The Project Board delegates authority to the Change Authority to assess and approve or reject change requests within predefined boundaries. These boundaries typically include budget limits, time constraints, scope parameters, and risk tolerance levels. Any changes falling outside these boundaries must be escalated to the Project Board for decision.
The Change Authority can be assigned to various individuals or groups depending on the project context and organizational needs. It might be given to the Project Manager for minor changes, a specific individual such as a Business Analyst, a Change Control Board comprising multiple stakeholders, or even remain with the Project Board for highly sensitive projects.
Key responsibilities of the Change Authority include reviewing change requests and off-specifications submitted through the issue management process, assessing the impact of proposed changes on project objectives, making decisions on whether to approve, reject, or defer changes, ensuring proper documentation of all decisions, and monitoring the change budget allocation.
The Change Authority works closely with the Project Manager, who prepares impact assessments and recommendations for each change request. This collaboration ensures informed decision-making while maintaining project momentum.
Establishing a Change Authority provides several benefits including faster response times to change requests, reduced burden on the Project Board, clearer accountability for change decisions, and more efficient use of senior management time. The level of authority delegated should be clearly defined in the Project Initiation Documentation to avoid confusion about decision-making boundaries throughout the project lifecycle.
Change Authority Role in PRINCE2 7th Edition
What is the Change Authority Role?
The Change Authority is a person or group delegated responsibility by the Project Board to review and approve or reject requests for change and off-specifications within defined limits. This delegation helps the Project Board manage their workload while ensuring that changes are handled efficiently throughout the project lifecycle.
Why is the Change Authority Important?
The Change Authority role is crucial for several reasons:
• Efficiency: It prevents the Project Board from becoming a bottleneck when numerous change requests arise • Speed: Decisions on changes can be made more quickly at the appropriate level • Focus: Allows the Project Board to concentrate on strategic decisions rather than routine change approvals • Governance: Maintains proper control over project scope and costs while enabling flexibility • Accountability: Clear responsibility for change decisions within defined tolerance levels
How Does the Change Authority Work?
The Change Authority operates within specific boundaries:
1. Delegation: The Project Board delegates authority to approve changes up to certain limits (budget, time, scope impact)
2. Authority Levels: The Change Authority can be assigned to different levels: - The Project Manager (for minor changes) - A specific person or team - A change control board or panel - The Project Board retains authority for changes beyond delegated limits
3. Decision Making: When a change request is submitted, the Change Authority assesses it against defined criteria and either approves, rejects, or escalates to the Project Board
4. Documentation: All decisions must be recorded in the Issue Register and Configuration Item Records
Key Responsibilities of the Change Authority:
• Reviewing requests for change and off-specifications • Making approval or rejection decisions within delegated limits • Escalating decisions that exceed their authority to the Project Board • Ensuring proper documentation of all change decisions • Considering the impact of changes on the business case
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Change Authority Role
Tip 1: Remember that the Change Authority is optional - the Project Board can retain this responsibility if they choose
Tip 2: Understand that the Change Authority works within delegated limits - they cannot approve changes that exceed their defined tolerance
Tip 3: Know that the Project Manager can be appointed as Change Authority for minor changes, but this should be clearly defined in the Project Initiation Documentation
Tip 4: The Change Authority role relates to the Organizing practice and works closely with the change control approach defined in the project
Tip 5: When questions mention scenarios where change decisions are needed quickly, consider whether a Change Authority would help
Tip 6: Questions may test whether you understand the relationship between the Project Board, Change Authority, and Project Manager in handling issues
Tip 7: Be aware that the term 'off-specification' refers to a product not meeting its specification - the Change Authority can also handle these
Tip 8: In exam scenarios, look for keywords like 'delegated authority,' 'change approval limits,' or 'escalation' which indicate Change Authority involvement
Common Exam Question Types:
• Identifying who should be appointed as Change Authority in a given scenario • Understanding when decisions should be escalated to the Project Board • Recognizing the benefits of having a Change Authority • Knowing what information should be included when delegating change authority