PRINCE2 7 Foundation · Quick refresher
Assurance or support?
Two roles. Two different kinds of confidence.
8 minute study lesson · People · Original learning material
What you will understand
- Distinguish project assurance from project support.
- Identify why assurance must be independent of the project manager.
- Apply the distinction to a simple project situation.
The idea
A well-organised project needs both trustworthy oversight and reliable administration. These help in different ways. Project assurance checks how the project is being conducted for the board. Project support helps the management team do its work.
The project board needs confidence in the business, user and supplier aspects of the project. Its members remain accountable for assurance in their areas, even when they delegate assurance activities to suitable people. Assurance must be independent of the project manager’s management of the project.
Project support provides practical help: maintaining information, arranging administration, assisting with planning tools or supporting established control procedures. Organising a report is useful, but it does not by itself provide an independent view of the decisions described in it.
Identify the purpose of the activity before naming the role. “Is this being managed properly on behalf of the board?” suggests assurance. “Can we help maintain the information and tools?” suggests support. Do not appoint the project manager or project support to assure their own management work.
An original fictional example
A new hospital booking service
The project manager reports that clinical needs are being met. Someone must independently check that view for the senior user. A separate task is to organise the project files and compile agreed report data.
The decision
Assign the independent user-focused check through project assurance. Use project support for the files and reporting administration.
Why it makes sense
The first task tests confidence in project conduct for a board interest. The second helps the project team keep its management information usable.
A common confusion
The mistaken idea: Project support can provide assurance because it has access to all the records.
The distinction: Access to information is useful, but independence and purpose distinguish assurance from support.
Assurance checks for the board. Support helps the team.
Points to remember
- Look for the purpose and accountability behind the task.
- Do not confuse project assurance with quality control of a specific product.
- Delegating assurance activities does not remove a board member’s accountability.
Your takeaway
Assurance gives the board an independent view; support provides practical management assistance. Both are useful, and their responsibilities must stay clear.
This independently written explanation is supplementary study material. It is not official examination content. Read about our content and its limitations.