PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
A new regulation is announced that will affect your project's deliverables. The compliance team has determined that the project must adapt to the new regulation before completion. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume regulatory urgency justifies immediate action (Option C) or an exception (Option D), but the PMP exam emphasizes that the change control process must be followed for all changes, regardless of urgency, to maintain control and documentation.
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 a change request to the change control board with an analysis of the impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
The correct first step is to submit a formal change request with an impact analysis because the new regulation represents a change that must be evaluated and approved through the established change control process. This ensures that scope, schedule, and cost impacts are documented and authorized before any work begins, maintaining project governance and compliance with organizational policies.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Submit a change request to the change control board with an analysis of the impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
Why this is correct
Any adaptation to the new regulation alters the approved baseline, so it must pass through integrated change control. Submitting a change request with impact analysis on scope, schedule and cost lets the change control board authorise, defer or reject the modification.
- ✗
Update the risk register and continue with the original plan until the change request is approved.
Why it's wrong here
Logging the risk and continuing the original plan leaves the deliverables non-compliant, since the regulation already requires adaptation before completion. Risk-register updates suit uncertain future threats; here the compliance team has confirmed a definite requirement, so a change request must be raised and assessed.
- ✗
Instruct the team to implement the necessary changes immediately to ensure compliance.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing immediately bypasses integrated change control, so the change is never assessed for impact on scope, schedule, cost or risk before work begins. It is tempting because regulatory deadlines feel urgent, yet even mandatory compliance changes must first be documented and approved through a change request.
- ✗
Ask the sponsor to approve an exception to the change control process due to regulatory urgency.
Why it's wrong here
Requesting an exception skips the impact analysis and approval that integrated change control requires, so the project proceeds without an approved change request. It tempts because regulatory urgency suggests speed, but exceptions are for genuine process failures, not for avoiding the standard change process.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Compliance, Regulations, and Change Management
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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