The Project Board is a critical component in PRINCE2's Organization Theme, operating as the primary decision-making entity for the project. It holds ultimate accountability for the project's success and represents the business, user, and supplier interests. The Project Board's key responsibilities …The Project Board is a critical component in PRINCE2's Organization Theme, operating as the primary decision-making entity for the project. It holds ultimate accountability for the project's success and represents the business, user, and supplier interests. The Project Board's key responsibilities include approving all major plans and authorizing any deviation from agreed stage tolerances. They're accountable for assuring business value, providing resources and funds, ensuring effective decisions, providing senior stakeholder support, and maintaining focus on business justification throughout the project lifecycle. The Project Board operates on a management-by-exception principle, meaning they're not involved in day-to-day operations but intervene when the project manager reports that tolerances might be exceeded. They conduct stage boundary reviews to evaluate progress and authorize the next stage plan. The Project Board must maintain the delicate balance between adequate oversight and unnecessary micromanagement, ensuring they remain available for consultation and decision-making without becoming a bottleneck. They also play a crucial role in project assurance, monitoring all aspects of the project's performance and ensuring it remains viable against its Business Case. PRINCE2 emphasizes that while the Project Board delegates day-to-day management to the Project Manager, they cannot delegate their accountability for the project's success, making their effective functioning essential to proper project governance.
Project Board responsibilities form a critical part of the Organization theme in PRINCE2. Understanding these responsibilities is essential because:
• The Project Board is ultimately accountable for project success • Clear responsibilities ensure proper governance and decision-making • They establish accountability at the highest level of project management • They provide the necessary authority and support to the Project Manager • They help maintain business justification throughout the project lifecycle
What are Project Board Responsibilities?
The Project Board represents the three primary stakeholder interests in any project:
1. Business (Executive): Ensures the project maintains business justification and provides value for money
2. User (Senior User): Represents those who will use the project's outputs
3. Supplier (Senior Supplier): Represents those providing expertise and resources
The Project Board's collective responsibilities include:
• Approving key management products (e.g., Project Initiation Documentation) • Making go/no-go decisions at stage boundaries • Providing resources and funding • Ensuring business justification is maintained • Supporting the Project Manager • Providing unified direction to the project • Ensuring effective delegation • Communicating with stakeholders outside the project management team
How Project Board Responsibilities Work
The Project Board operates according to these key principles:
• Direction by exception: The Board sets tolerance levels and only gets involved when these are forecast to be exceeded
• Management by stages: The Board approves one management stage at a time, reviewing progress and viability before authorizing the next stage
• Decision unity: While individual roles have specific responsibilities, decisions are made collectively
• Accountability: Although the Board can delegate authority to the Project Manager, it cannot delegate its accountability
• Representation: The three roles ensure all key interests are represented in decision-making
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Project Board Responsibilities
• Remember the three key roles (Executive, Senior User, Senior Supplier) and their specific interests
• Understand that the Executive is ultimately responsible for the project's success
• Know that the Project Board operates by exception - they are not involved in day-to-day management
• Recognize that the Project Board is responsible for approving the project closure
• Be clear that while Project Assurance can be delegated, the Project Board retains accountability
• Memorize that the Project Board must authorize each stage
• Know that the Project Board makes decisions at key decision points (especially stage boundaries)
• Understand that the Project Board approves the Project Initiation Documentation
• Remember that escalations occur when stage tolerances are forecast to be exceeded
• Be aware that the Project Board must ensure business justification exists throughout the project
When answering exam questions, look for keywords about governance, decision-making authority, exceptions, and the different roles' responsibilities. Always consider which specific role (Executive, Senior User, or Senior Supplier) would be responsible for a particular aspect of the project.