The project manager needs to understand what makes the outputs acceptable to the users. In which step of the 'planning' technique should this occur?

The 'planning' technique includes the step 'Defining and analysing the products'. This step uses the product-based planning technique to identify and analyse the project's products. A key part of this is creating product descriptions, which detail the purpose, composition, and quality criteria for each product. These quality criteria define what makes the outputs acceptable to users, ensuring that requirements are clearly understood before work commences. This step is fundamental to establishing a clear scope and quality expectations.

B. Organizing work packages is about grouping related activities for assignment to a team, not defining the acceptability of the final outputs.
C. Preparing estimates involves determining the time and resources required for activities, which follows the definition of products and their requirements.
D. Preparing a schedule involves sequencing and timing activities, which can only be done accurately after products and work are understood.

AXELOS. (2023). Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 7. PeopleCert. Section 13.4.1, "The PRINCE2 planning technique," Step 2: "Defining and analysing the products," pp. 138-139.

AXELOS. (2023). Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 7. PeopleCert. Section 13.5.2, "Product description," p. 143.