In PRINCE2 7, the Organizing practice recognizes that every project has three primary interests that must be represented and balanced throughout the project lifecycle. These three project interests are Business, User, and Supplier.
The Business interest focuses on ensuring the project delivers val…In PRINCE2 7, the Organizing practice recognizes that every project has three primary interests that must be represented and balanced throughout the project lifecycle. These three project interests are Business, User, and Supplier.
The Business interest focuses on ensuring the project delivers value and remains viable from an organizational perspective. Representatives of this interest are concerned with whether the investment is worthwhile, whether benefits will be realized, and whether the project aligns with strategic objectives. They ensure that the project makes sound commercial sense and that resources are being used efficiently.
The User interest represents those who will use the products or outputs created by the project, or those whose work will be affected by the new capabilities. These stakeholders focus on ensuring that the delivered products meet their needs and requirements. They are concerned with quality, usability, and whether the outputs will enable them to achieve the expected benefits in their operational environment.
The Supplier interest encompasses those responsible for designing, developing, procuring, and implementing the project products. This includes internal teams and external contractors who provide specialist skills and resources. They focus on technical feasibility, resource availability, and ensuring products can be created within agreed parameters.
PRINCE2 7 emphasizes that all three interests must be adequately represented on the project board for effective governance. The Executive typically represents the business interest, the Senior User represents user interests, and the Senior Supplier represents supplier interests. This structure ensures balanced decision-making and prevents any single perspective from dominating project direction.
Maintaining engagement from all three interests throughout the project helps ensure that products are fit for purpose, commercially viable, and technically achievable. When these interests are properly balanced and represented, projects are more likely to deliver successful outcomes that satisfy all stakeholder groups.
Three Project Interests - PRINCE2 Foundation V7 Complete Guide
Introduction to Three Project Interests
The Three Project Interests is a fundamental concept within the PRINCE2 Organizing practice that ensures all key stakeholder perspectives are represented in project governance. Understanding this concept is essential for passing your PRINCE2 Foundation exam and for effective project management in practice.
Why Three Project Interests Matter
Projects exist to deliver products that create value for organizations. However, different stakeholders have different priorities and concerns. The Three Project Interests framework ensures that:
• All critical perspectives are considered in decision-making • There is balanced governance at the project board level • Potential conflicts between stakeholder needs are addressed early • The project remains aligned with business objectives while being delivered effectively
What Are the Three Project Interests?
The three project interests represent the primary stakeholder perspectives that must be represented on any project:
1. Business Interest This represents the perspective of the organization investing in the project. The business interest focuses on: • Ensuring the project remains viable and worthwhile • Protecting the investment • Confirming that benefits will be realized • Making key funding and continuation decisions
2. User Interest This represents those who will use the project's products or be affected by them. The user interest focuses on: • Ensuring products meet user requirements • Confirming products are fit for purpose • Representing the needs of those who will operate or maintain the outputs • Ensuring the solution is practical and usable
3. Supplier Interest This represents those who provide resources, expertise, and skills to deliver the project. The supplier interest focuses on: • Ensuring the project is feasible and deliverable • Confirming resources and capabilities are available • Providing technical expertise and guidance • Managing the delivery of specialist products
How the Three Project Interests Work in Practice
In PRINCE2, the three interests are typically represented at the Project Board level through specific roles:
• Executive - Represents the business interest and is accountable for the project • Senior User - Represents the user interest and specifies needs • Senior Supplier - Represents the supplier interest and commits resources
These three roles work together to provide unified direction and make key decisions. While one person may sometimes represent multiple interests, all three perspectives must be covered.
Key Principles to Remember
• All three interests must be represented throughout the project • The interests may sometimes conflict, requiring balanced decision-making • One individual can represent more than one interest if appropriate • The representation may change during the project lifecycle • External stakeholders can represent interests (e.g., external suppliers)
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Three Project Interests
Tip 1: Know the Three Interests by Heart Memorize Business, User, and Supplier. Questions often test whether you can identify which interest is being described in a scenario.
Tip 2: Link Interests to Roles Remember the connection: Executive = Business, Senior User = User, Senior Supplier = Supplier. Many questions test this relationship.
Tip 3: Focus on the Purpose of Each Interest • Business = investment and value • User = needs and fitness for purpose • Supplier = feasibility and delivery capability
Tip 4: Watch for Scenario Questions You may be given a scenario describing someone's concerns and asked which interest they represent. Focus on what they care about, not their job title.
Tip 5: Remember Multiple Interests Can Be Held by One Person In smaller projects, one person might represent more than one interest. This is a common exam topic.
Tip 6: Understand Why Balance Matters Questions may ask about the consequences of not having all interests represented. Think about what perspective would be missing.
Common Exam Question Types
1. Identifying which interest a scenario describes 2. Matching roles to interests 3. Understanding why all three must be represented 4. Recognizing when interests might conflict 5. Knowing who represents each interest on the Project Board
Summary
The Three Project Interests ensure balanced governance by representing Business, User, and Supplier perspectives. This framework is central to PRINCE2's approach to project organization and is frequently tested in the Foundation exam. Focus on understanding the purpose of each interest and how they relate to Project Board roles.