This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A new regulatory requirement has been discovered that will affect your project's deliverables. The requirement is mandatory and must be implemented before the project can close. Your team has the skills to implement it, but it will add two months to the schedule. The sponsor is pushing for the original deadline. What should you do FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Analyze the impact on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB)
Option C is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that when a mandatory regulatory requirement emerges, the project manager must first analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost) and then follow the formal change control process. Submitting a change request to the CCB ensures that the decision is documented, approved, and communicated, protecting the project from unauthorized changes and scope creep. This aligns with the 'Perform Integrated Change Control' process and the 'People' domain's emphasis on stakeholder engagement and governance.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Refuse to implement the requirement because it will delay the project
Why it's wrong here
Refusing a mandatory requirement is not advisable; compliance is necessary.
✗
Inform the sponsor that the deadline cannot be met and begin working on the requirement
Why it's wrong here
Working without formal approval bypasses change control.
✓
Analyze the impact on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB)
Why this is correct
The PM should assess impact and submit a change request for approval before implementing.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ask the team to implement the requirement while working overtime to minimize schedule impact
Why it's wrong here
Overtime is not a substitute for change control; the change must be formally approved.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that the project manager can directly implement a change or negotiate with the sponsor without first going through the formal change control process, leading candidates to pick Option B or D.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the change control board (CCB) evaluates the impact of the regulatory requirement on the project baseline (scope, schedule, cost) and decides whether to approve the change. In real-world scenarios, regulatory requirements often have a fixed compliance date, so the PM must also assess if the two-month delay can be offset by fast-tracking or crashing, but only after formal analysis and approval. The key subtlety is that the PM must first analyze the impact (Option C) before any action, not immediately start work or reject the requirement.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Analyze the impact on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) — Option C is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that when a mandatory regulatory requirement emerges, the project manager must first analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost) and then follow the formal change control process. Submitting a change request to the CCB ensures that the decision is documented, approved, and communicated, protecting the project from unauthorized changes and scope creep. This aligns with the 'Perform Integrated Change Control' process and the 'People' domain's emphasis on stakeholder engagement and governance.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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