What is the change authority role permitted to authorize?

The change authority is a role or group to which the project board can delegate responsibility for assessing and approving or rejecting change requests. This delegation is not unlimited; the change authority operates within specific limits set by the project board, most notably a defined change budget. Its purpose is to handle minor changes efficiently without needing to escalate every request to the project board, provided the change does not exceed the delegated financial and scope limits.

A. Managing risks is a broader project management responsibility, primarily handled by the project manager and project board, not the specific remit of the change authority.
B. The project board sets the limits on the change budget; the change authority works within these limits and cannot adjust them.
C. Stage tolerance is set by the project board when it authorizes a stage plan. The change authority has no power to alter these tolerances.

- AXELOS. (2023). Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 7. TSO (The Stationery Office). Section 10.3.6, p. 111. "The project board may delegate authority for approving responses to requests for change or off-specifications to a separate individual or group, called a change authority."

- AXELOS. (2023). Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 7. TSO (The Stationery Office). Section 14.4.4, p. 190. "The change authority reviews and approves or rejects the request for change within the change budget and authority limits set by the project board."