The answer is to initiate the formal change control process and escalate to the steering committee. This is correct because any request that drives a project change control scope increase must be formally evaluated for its impact on cost, schedule, and quality; without additional budget, the change cannot be unilaterally approved by the project manager, who lacks the authority to override resource constraints. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of governance over project scope changes and the escalation hierarchy—a common trap is choosing to implement the change anyway or reallocating budget without approval, which violates internal controls. Remember that the steering committee holds the ultimate decision-making power for significant scope increases, ensuring alignment with IT strategy and risk appetite. A useful memory tip is "Scope without budget? Escalate to the committee."
CISA Governance and Management of IT Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of governance and management of it. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An organization is implementing a new ERP system. The project sponsor requests a change that will significantly increase project scope without additional budget. Which of the following is the BEST action for the project manager?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Initiate the formal change control process and escalate to the steering committee.
The project manager must follow the formal change control process to evaluate the impact of a scope change that lacks additional budget. Escalating to the steering committee is appropriate because they have the authority to approve or reject changes that affect project constraints, ensuring alignment with organizational governance and IT strategy.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Accept the change and adjust the project timeline accordingly.
Why it's wrong here
Accepting without budget or scope adjustment is poor governance.
✓
Initiate the formal change control process and escalate to the steering committee.
Why this is correct
Proper change control ensures governance and stakeholder involvement.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement the change and inform the steering committee later.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing first bypasses governance.
✗
Reject the change because it is outside the original scope.
Why it's wrong here
Rejection without evaluation is not best practice; changes should be assessed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose to reject the change outright (Option D) thinking it protects the baseline, but the CISA exam emphasizes following the formal change control process and escalating to the appropriate governance body rather than making unilateral decisions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ERP implementations, scope changes often trigger adjustments to system configuration, data migration, or integration points, which can cascade into unplanned costs and schedule delays. The formal change control process (e.g., as defined in PMBOK or COBIT) requires documented impact analysis, including cost-benefit and risk assessment, before any approval. The steering committee, typically composed of senior stakeholders, provides the governance layer to balance project objectives with enterprise IT strategy, ensuring that scope changes align with business priorities and resource constraints.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Governance and Management of IT — This question tests Governance and Management of IT — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Initiate the formal change control process and escalate to the steering committee. — The project manager must follow the formal change control process to evaluate the impact of a scope change that lacks additional budget. Escalating to the steering committee is appropriate because they have the authority to approve or reject changes that affect project constraints, ensuring alignment with organizational governance and IT strategy.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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