PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
A new government regulation has been announced that will affect your project's deliverables. The regulation will take effect in three months, and your project is scheduled to complete in six months. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to a solution (like fast-tracking or waiting for legal) without first performing the required impact analysis, which is the foundational step in the change control process.
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
✓
Assess the impact of the regulation and submit a change request to address necessary adjustments
The PMBOK Guide requires the project manager to first assess the impact of any external change, such as a new regulation, on the project's scope, schedule, cost, and quality before taking action. Only after this analysis should a change request be submitted through the formal integrated change control process to adjust the project plan. Ignoring the regulation or acting without analysis violates the principle of proactive risk management and the change control system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Inform the team and continue with the current plan, assuming the regulation may not affect the project
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring a newly announced government regulation and continuing with the current plan is a significant oversight in project management. A Project Manager is responsible for proactively identifying and assessing all potential impacts from external environmental factors, including new regulations, on project objectives, scope, schedule, and cost. Failing to assess this impact could lead to severe non-compliance issues, legal penalties, and project failure, demonstrating a lack of due diligence and risk management.
- ✗
Fast-track the project to complete before the regulation takes effect
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking the project solely to avoid a new regulation, without a thorough impact assessment or a revised plan, is a highly reactive and risky approach. Such an unanalyzed decision can introduce significant new risks, including quality degradation, increased costs, scope creep, and potential team burnout, without guaranteeing compliance or successful project completion. A PM must first understand the regulation's implications before deciding on schedule compression techniques, which themselves require careful planning and approval.
- ✗
Ask the legal department to interpret the regulation and wait for their response before acting
Why it's wrong here
While involving the legal department is crucial for interpreting complex regulations, a Project Manager should not passively wait for their response before initiating any action. The PM's role is to proactively lead the impact assessment, gather preliminary information, and coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including legal, to understand potential implications for the project. Delegating the entire assessment and halting progress demonstrates a lack of proactive leadership and could unnecessarily delay critical project adjustments.
- ✓
Assess the impact of the regulation and submit a change request to address necessary adjustments
Why this is correct
This is the correct project management approach. Upon learning of a new regulation, the Project Manager must first conduct a comprehensive impact assessment to determine how it affects the project's scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, and risks. Based on this analysis, a formal change request must be submitted through the integrated change control process to propose necessary adjustments to the project management plan and baselines, ensuring compliance and continued project viability.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Change Control Process
A formal, structured procedure used to manage any changes to a project's scope, schedule, budget, or requirements, ensuring every modification is reviewed, approved, tested, and documented before implementation.
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