Acceptance Criteria (PRINCE2 - Project Level)
Official Definition (PRINCE2):
A prioritised list of criteria that a project’s product must meet to be accepted by the customer.
Layman’s Definition:
These are the big-picture success rules — what must be true for the entire project to be accepted
Examples:
• Public Sector IT – Web Portal Capacity: System must handle 5,000 users simultaneously.
• Healthcare – Regulatory Requirement: Must pass clinical safety audit.
• Government Funding – Budget Timing: Delivered by end of financial year.
When to use:
Use during project initiation and planning stages to define measurable conditions that determine whether the entire project is acceptable to key stakeholders and can be closed.
What It Might Look Like in Practice:
• A clearly documented list in the Project Product Description, often reviewed and approved by the project board and key stakeholders.
• Forms part of quality planning and is used as a reference point during handover and post-project review.