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PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is leading a software…
A project manager is leading a software development project. The team has completed the design phase and is about to start coding. The project sponsor asks the project manager to add a new feature that was not in the original scope. What should the project manager do first?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume the project manager has authority to approve changes directly, but the PMI framework requires a formal change request and impact analysis first, even for sponsor requests.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Initiate a change request to assess the impact on cost, schedule, and resources.
The project manager must first initiate a formal change request to assess the impact of the new feature on cost, schedule, and resources before any action is taken. This aligns with the PMI's integrated change control process, which requires evaluating trade-offs in a software development context where code dependencies and integration points can be affected. Adding features without analysis risks scope creep, budget overruns, and missed deadlines.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add the feature to the project plan and adjust the schedule accordingly.
Why it's wrong here
Adding the feature and adjusting the schedule pre-empts the change control process; no impact analysis or approval has occurred, so the baseline is altered without authorisation. It is tempting because the plan must eventually reflect approved changes, but that happens only after the request is formally assessed and approved.
- ✗
Approve the change and inform the team to start working on it.
Why it's wrong here
Approving immediately bypasses the change control board, so schedule, cost and risk impacts go unassessed before work begins. It is tempting because sponsors can authorise funding, but a sponsor request still enters the perform integrated change control process for evaluation and formal approval.
- ✗
Refuse the request because the scope was already baselined.
Why it's wrong here
Refusing outright ignores the sponsor's authority and the change control process, which exists to evaluate such requests rather than reject them. It is tempting when protecting a baselined scope, but the correct first step is documenting the request and assessing impact through integrated change control.
- ✓
Initiate a change request to assess the impact on cost, schedule, and resources.
Why this is correct
Any scope addition must pass through integrated change control, so the project manager first raises a change request. This triggers impact analysis across cost, schedule and resources, letting the change control board approve, defer or reject before baselining alters the plan.
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This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.