CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a change that would add a new feature. The project manager assesses the impact and finds that it will increase the project cost by 15% and extend the schedule by three weeks. The sponsor is concerned about the budget but sees the value. What should the project manager do next?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume the project manager has authority to approve changes based on stakeholder influence or sponsor support, but the CAPM exam emphasizes that any change affecting baselines must go through the formal CCB process, regardless of stakeholder power or perceived value.
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
✓
Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB) for review and decision.
In project management, once a change is assessed for impact, the project manager must follow the formal change control process. Since the change increases cost by 15% and extends the schedule by three weeks, it exceeds typical contingency thresholds and requires approval from the Change Control Board (CCB), which has the authority to approve or reject changes that affect baselines. Option B is correct because submitting to the CCB ensures proper governance and alignment with the project's change management plan.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Approve the change since the stakeholder is influential and the sponsor sees value.
Why it's wrong here
Only the CCB can approve changes; the project manager does not have that authority.
- ✓
Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB) for review and decision.
Why this is correct
The formal change control process ensures all impacts are considered and approved by the CCB.
- ✗
Implement the change immediately to avoid delaying the project further.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing without approval violates change control and may lead to scope creep.
- ✗
Reject the change because it exceeds the budget and schedule constraints.
Why it's wrong here
The project manager should not reject changes unilaterally; the CCB decides based on value and constraints.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.