Chapter 2 of 5 · PeopleCert PRINCE2 7 Foundation

PRINCE2 Principles

Overview of the seven PRINCE2 7 principles, why they underpin the whole method, and how tailoring decisions are made, owned and recorded in the PID.

  • 3topics
  • 14 minfast track
  • 8%of the exam
Start with Business Justification, Learning and Roles Principles

Topics in this chapter

Take them in order, or jump to the one you need.

  1. 1Business Justification, Learning and Roles PrinciplesThree PRINCE2 7 principles: ensure continued business justification, learn from experience, and define roles, responsibilities…4 min
  2. 2Manage by Stages, Manage by Exception, Focus on ProductsThree PRINCE2 7 principles explained: manage by stages, manage by exception with tolerances and delegation, and focus on products…5 min
  3. 3Tailoring and How the Principles Underpin PRINCE2PRINCE2 7 tailor to suit the project: what can be tailored, the factors behind it, who decides, and how the principles keep a…5 min

About this chapter

What this chapter covers

PRINCE2 Principles is 8% of the PRINCE2 7 Foundation exam, about five of the 60 questions. It covers the seven principles: ensure continued business justification, learn from experience, define roles, responsibilities and relationships, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, and tailor to suit the project.

It also covers why the principles are the foundation of the method, which factors influence tailoring, who is responsible for tailoring decisions and where those decisions are recorded.

Questions usually describe a behaviour and ask which principle it shows, or ask which statement about a principle is correct. Expect at least one list question on tailoring.

How the topics fit together

PrinciplesApplied through practices and processesTailored to the project contextEnsure continued business justificationManage by stagesManage by exceptionDefine roles, responsibilities and relationshipsManage by exception

The principles are the rules that must hold on every PRINCE2 project. Practices and processes put them into action, and tailoring adapts that action to the project without breaking any principle.

Exam tip

A project is only a PRINCE2 project if all seven principles are applied. Practices and processes can be adapted, but no principle can be dropped.

How to use these pages

Each topic page has the same shape, so you can skim for what you need.

  • What it is: the idea in plain words.
  • How it works: the mechanism, with tables and examples.
  • What to remember for the exam: the facts to memorise and how questions are phrased.
  • Common mistakes: the classic traps.
  • Check yourself: three questions to test your understanding.

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The full PeopleCert PRINCE2 7 Foundation question bank has 564 questions, with timed practice exams and an explanation for every answer.

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