In PRINCE2 7, User Interest is a fundamental concept within the Organizing Practice that focuses on representing the needs and perspectives of those who will ultimately use the products or outcomes delivered by the project. The User Interest is one of the three primary project interests that must b…In PRINCE2 7, User Interest is a fundamental concept within the Organizing Practice that focuses on representing the needs and perspectives of those who will ultimately use the products or outcomes delivered by the project. The User Interest is one of the three primary project interests that must be represented within the project management team structure, alongside Business Interest and Supplier Interest.
The User Interest ensures that the people who will operate, maintain, or benefit from the project outputs have their requirements properly considered throughout the project lifecycle. This representation is crucial because users possess valuable knowledge about operational requirements, practical constraints, and day-to-day functionality that must be incorporated into the project deliverables.
Within the PRINCE2 project board structure, the Senior User role represents the User Interest. The Senior User is responsible for specifying the needs of those who will use the project products, ensuring that user requirements are clearly communicated to the project team, and confirming that the delivered solutions meet the specified user needs. They act as a bridge between the project team and the eventual user community.
The Senior User also plays a vital role in quality assurance by verifying that products meet user expectations and acceptance criteria. They participate in key decision-making processes and provide guidance on user-related matters throughout the project.
Multiple Senior Users may be appointed when a project serves different user groups with varying needs. This ensures comprehensive representation of all user communities affected by the project outcomes.
The User Interest extends beyond simple representation to active engagement in project governance. Senior Users commit resources for user acceptance testing, provide timely decisions on user-related issues, and help manage expectations within the user community. Their involvement ensures that the final deliverables are fit for purpose and will be effectively adopted by the intended audience upon project completion.
User Interest in PRINCE2 Foundation V7 - Complete Guide
What is User Interest?
In PRINCE2, the User Interest represents the stakeholders who will use the project's products or outputs, or who will be affected by the outcomes of the project. This is one of the three primary project interests that must be represented at the project board level, alongside the Business Interest and Supplier Interest.
The User Interest focuses on ensuring that the project delivers products that are fit for purpose and meet the needs of those who will actually use them in their day-to-day operations.
Why is User Interest Important?
User Interest is critical for several reasons:
• Quality Assurance: Users define what quality means from their perspective and confirm whether products meet their requirements
• Benefits Realization: The ultimate benefits of a project are typically realized through the users actually utilizing the products effectively
• Acceptance Criteria: Users help establish and verify acceptance criteria for project deliverables
• Operational Integration: Users understand how products will fit into existing workflows and processes
• Change Impact Assessment: Users can assess how changes will affect their operations
How Does User Interest Work in Practice?
The User Interest is represented on the Project Board by the Senior User role. Key responsibilities include:
• Specifying the needs of those who will use the project's products
• Ensuring the solution meets user requirements throughout the project
• Providing user resources for the project when needed
• Confirming that the products are fit for purpose
• Resolving user requirements conflicts and priorities
• Approving products during quality reviews from a user perspective
There may be multiple Senior Users on a Project Board to represent different user groups or communities.
Relationship with Other Interests
The User Interest works alongside:
• Business Interest: Represented by the Executive, who focuses on value for money and business justification
• Supplier Interest: Represented by the Senior Supplier, who focuses on providing resources and expertise to create products
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on User Interest
1. Remember the Role: User Interest is represented by the Senior User on the Project Board - this is a common exam question
2. Focus on Products: When a question mentions product quality, fitness for purpose, or acceptance criteria, think User Interest
3. Benefits Connection: Questions about who confirms benefits will be realized often relate to the User Interest
4. Multiple Representatives: Remember that there can be more than one Senior User if multiple user communities exist
5. Quality Reviews: Users participate in quality reviews to confirm products meet their requirements
6. Key Phrases to Watch For: Look for terms like 'fitness for purpose,' 'user requirements,' 'operational needs,' and 'acceptance' in questions
7. Distinguish from Business Interest: Business Interest (Executive) focuses on investment and value; User Interest focuses on usability and benefits realization
8. Resource Provision: Senior Users are responsible for providing user resources to support the project - this includes personnel for testing and reviews
9. Conflict Resolution: When questions mention resolving conflicts between different user groups, this falls under the Senior User responsibility
10. Project Board Membership: All three interests must be represented for proper project governance - questions may test this foundational concept