CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Question
During project execution, a stakeholder requests a new feature that was not in the original scope. The project manager determines that the feature can be accommodated without affecting the critical path, but will increase costs. According to the predictive plan-based methodology, what should the project manager do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAPM often tests the misconception that a project manager can approve changes that do not affect the critical path or that stakeholder satisfaction justifies bypassing formal change control; the trap is forgetting that any change affecting baselines requires CCB approval.
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
In a predictive (plan-based) methodology, any change to the project scope, schedule, or cost must go through the formal Integrated Change Control process. Since the requested feature was not in the original scope and will increase costs, it constitutes a change request. The project manager's next step is to submit this change request to the Change Control Board (CCB), which is the designated body responsible for reviewing, approving, or rejecting changes that impact project baselines. The project manager does not have the authority to unilaterally approve changes that affect cost baselines, even if the critical path is unaffected.
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 to improve stakeholder satisfaction
Why it's wrong here
Approving the change bypasses the integrated change control process, which requires a formal change request, impact analysis and approval by the change control board before any scope or cost baseline is modified. It is tempting because stakeholder satisfaction matters, but unilateral approval would be correct only if the project manager held delegated authority to accept scope changes.
- ✗
Inform the stakeholder that the change cannot be accepted
Why it's wrong here
Rejecting the change outright ignores the integrated change control process, which requires the request to be documented, assessed and decided by the change control board rather than dismissed by the project manager. It is tempting because the feature is out of scope, but refusal would be correct only if the request had already been evaluated and formally declined.
- ✓
Submit the change request to the change control board
Why this is correct
Any scope addition altering cost must pass through integrated change control before work begins. The change control board evaluates, approves or rejects the request and authorises corresponding baseline updates. Proceeding without approval bypasses governance, regardless of critical path impact.
- ✗
Update the project management plan to include the feature
Why it's wrong here
Updating the project management plan directly skips the perform integrated change control process, where the change request must first be reviewed and approved before baselines are modified. It is tempting because the feature fits without affecting the critical path, but direct updating would be correct only after the change control board has authorised the change.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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.