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
This is the correct procedure per PMI.
- ✗
Update the risk register and continue with the original plan until the change request is approved.
Why it's wrong here
While updating the risk register is good, the PM must initiate the change process.
- ✗
Instruct the team to implement the necessary changes immediately to ensure compliance.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing changes without formal approval bypasses change control.
- ✗
Ask the sponsor to approve an exception to the change control process due to regulatory urgency.
Why it's wrong here
Regulatory changes still follow the change control process; no exception is needed.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PMP 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 PMP exam.