CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a new feature that was not included in the approved scope. What should the project manager do first?
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
✓
Perform a change impact analysis
The correct first step when a new feature is requested is to perform a change impact analysis (Option A). According to the PMBOK Guide, any change request must be assessed for its impact on project constraints such as scope, schedule, cost, and quality before a decision is made. Option B (escalating to sponsor) is premature without analysis. Option C (rejecting outright) is not proactive and ignores proper change control. Option D (adding to next iteration) bypasses the formal change control process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Perform a change impact analysis
Why this is correct
Impact analysis is the first step per the change control process.
- ✗
Escalate to the project sponsor for decision
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should occur after analysis.
- ✗
Inform the stakeholder that the scope is frozen
Why it's wrong here
This may dismiss a valuable request without evaluation.
- ✗
Add the feature to the next iteration
Why it's wrong here
This bypasses change control.
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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.