The Project Board is a crucial governance body within the PRINCE2 7 framework, responsible for the overall direction and management of a project. It represents the business, user, and supplier interests, ensuring that the project remains viable and aligned with organizational objectives throughout …The Project Board is a crucial governance body within the PRINCE2 7 framework, responsible for the overall direction and management of a project. It represents the business, user, and supplier interests, ensuring that the project remains viable and aligned with organizational objectives throughout its lifecycle.
The Project Board consists of three key roles: the Executive, Senior User, and Senior Supplier. The Executive is the single individual with ultimate accountability for the project's success and represents the business perspective. The Senior User represents those who will use the project's products and ensures that user requirements are properly specified and met. The Senior Supplier represents those responsible for designing, developing, and implementing the project's products.
Key responsibilities of the Project Board include authorizing project initiation and each subsequent stage, providing unified direction and guidance to the Project Manager, approving major plans and any deviations beyond agreed tolerances, ensuring adequate resources are available, and making key decisions when escalated by the Project Manager.
The Project Board operates on a management by exception basis, meaning they set tolerances for time, cost, scope, risk, quality, and benefits. The Project Manager works within these tolerances, only escalating issues when boundaries are threatened. This approach allows the Board to maintain strategic oversight while delegating day-to-day management responsibilities.
The Board communicates decisions through formal authorizations and provides ad-hoc direction when needed. They review progress through highlight reports and end-stage assessments, making go or no-go decisions at stage boundaries.
Effective Project Boards demonstrate commitment, availability, and appropriate authority levels. They must be empowered to make decisions and commit resources on behalf of their respective stakeholder groups. The Board's engagement is essential for project success, as they provide the necessary governance, accountability, and decision-making authority that enables projects to deliver intended benefits.
Project Board - PRINCE2 Foundation V7 Complete Guide
Introduction to Project Board
The Project Board is one of the most critical elements within the PRINCE2 methodology's organizing practice. Understanding its role, responsibilities, and composition is essential for both practical project management and success in the PRINCE2 Foundation exam.
What is the Project Board?
The Project Board is the accountable body for the project's success. It represents the business, user, and supplier interests and is responsible for the overall direction and management of the project. The Project Board provides unified direction to the Project Manager and is accountable to corporate, programme management, or the customer.
The Project Board consists of three key roles:
1. Executive - Represents the business interests and is ultimately accountable for the project. There must be only one Executive, who owns the Business Case and ensures the project delivers value for money.
2. Senior User(s) - Represents the interests of those who will use the project's products. They specify needs, ensure user requirements are met, and confirm that the solution meets those needs.
3. Senior Supplier(s) - Represents the interests of those designing, developing, facilitating, procuring, and implementing the project's products. They ensure technical integrity and provide supplier resources.
Why is the Project Board Important?
The Project Board is important for several reasons:
• Accountability - It provides a single point of accountability for the project at a senior level • Decision Making - It makes key decisions that are beyond the Project Manager's authority • Resource Commitment - It commits resources and funds to the project • Business Alignment - It ensures the project remains aligned with business objectives • Exception Management - It handles exceptions and provides direction when tolerances are exceeded • Stage Authorization - It authorizes progression from one stage to the next
How Does the Project Board Work?
The Project Board operates through a principle called management by exception. This means:
• The Project Board sets tolerances for the Project Manager • The Project Manager manages day-to-day activities within those tolerances • The Project Board only gets involved when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded • This allows efficient use of senior management time while maintaining control
Key Responsibilities of the Project Board:
1. Authorizing initiation, the project, and stage boundaries 2. Providing overall direction and guidance 3. Approving all major plans and plan deviations 4. Approving completed stages and authorizing the start of the next 5. Communicating with stakeholders and corporate/programme management 6. Ensuring required resources are available 7. Making decisions on Exception Reports 8. Confirming project closure
Project Board Communication
The Project Board receives: • Highlight Reports (regular progress updates) • Exception Reports (when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded) • End Stage Reports • End Project Report
The Project Board issues: • Project authorization • Stage authorization • Exception Plan approval or project closure decisions
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Project Board
Tip 1: Remember the Three Interests Always remember that the Project Board represents three interests: business, user, and supplier. Questions often test whether you understand which role represents which interest.
Tip 2: Executive is Singular A common exam question relates to the fact that there can only be ONE Executive, while there can be multiple Senior Users and Senior Suppliers. The Executive is the single point of accountability.
Tip 3: Management by Exception Understand that the Project Board does not manage day-to-day activities. They delegate this to the Project Manager and only intervene when exceptions occur. Questions may try to trick you into selecting answers where the Project Board is involved in daily decisions.
Tip 4: Business Case Ownership The Executive owns the Business Case. This is frequently tested. The Senior User and Senior Supplier contribute to it, but ownership lies with the Executive.
Tip 5: Authorization vs Management The Project Board authorizes but the Project Manager manages. Be careful with questions that blur these boundaries.
Tip 6: Stage Boundaries Remember that the Project Board must authorize each stage transition. This is a key control point in PRINCE2.
Tip 7: Role Combinations In smaller projects, roles can be combined, but the Executive and Project Manager roles must never be combined. This maintains separation of accountability and management.
Common Exam Question Themes:
• Who is accountable for the project? (Answer: Executive/Project Board) • Who owns the Business Case? (Answer: Executive) • Who authorizes stage progression? (Answer: Project Board) • Who represents user interests? (Answer: Senior User) • What principle allows the Project Board to avoid daily involvement? (Answer: Manage by Exception)