What is the First Step When a New Regulation Affects Your Project?
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?
Quick Answer
This answer is correct because it follows the sequence PMI expects whenever a change is introduced mid-project, regardless of how urgent or non-negotiable that change appears: first understand the full impact on scope, schedule, and cost, and only then route the change through the formal change control process. Even a mandatory regulatory requirement doesn't bypass this discipline, because the project manager still needs documented analysis to justify to the sponsor and the change control board exactly what the requirement will cost the project in time and resources. Jumping straight to telling the sponsor no, or unilaterally extending the schedule without formal approval, would sidestep the governance structure that protects the project from undocumented, unauthorized changes and keeps decision-making with the people accountable for approving them. The sponsor's preference for the original deadline doesn't change this sequence either; it simply becomes an input the CCB weighs once the impact analysis is in hand. This question tests a pattern that shows up constantly on the exam: whenever new information forces a change to an already-approved baseline, the correct first move is almost always to assess the impact and formally submit it through change control, rather than immediately negotiating, escalating, or implementing the change directly. Look for that assess-then-submit sequence any time a scenario describes an unavoidable change colliding with an existing commitment.
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
Analyze the impact on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB)
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is the process of identifying people or groups who have an interest in a project and actively involving them through communication and collaboration to meet their needs and expectations.
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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Same concept, more angles
7 more ways this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
easy- A.Inform the team and continue with the current plan, assuming the regulation may not affect the project
- B.Fast-track the project to complete before the regulation takes effect
- C.Ask the legal department to interpret the regulation and wait for their response before acting
- ✓ D.Assess the impact of the regulation and submit a change request to address necessary adjustments
Why D: 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.
Variation 2. 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?
easy- ✓ A.Submit a change request to the change control board with an analysis of the impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
- B.Update the risk register and continue with the original plan until the change request is approved.
- C.Instruct the team to implement the necessary changes immediately to ensure compliance.
- D.Ask the sponsor to approve an exception to the change control process due to regulatory urgency.
Why A: 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.
Variation 3. A new regulatory requirement has been discovered mid-project. The change will affect the project scope and schedule. Which TWO actions should the project manager take FIRST? (Choose two)
medium- ✓ A.Analyze the impact of the regulation on scope, schedule, and cost
- ✓ B.Submit a change request to the change control board for approval
- C.Inform the team to ignore the regulation until the project is complete
- D.Update the risk register and move on
- E.Immediately instruct the team to implement the changes to ensure compliance
Why A: The first step when a new regulatory requirement emerges mid-project is to analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost). This analysis provides the data needed to determine whether a change request is warranted and what its implications will be. Without this impact analysis, the project manager cannot make an informed decision or properly communicate the change to stakeholders.
Variation 4. During a project audit, a new regulatory requirement is discovered that affects your project's deliverables. The compliance team says it must be implemented immediately. Your project is already behind schedule. Which THREE actions should you take?
medium- ✓ A.Communicate the situation to key stakeholders, including the sponsor and compliance officer
- B.Instruct the team to implement the requirement immediately without formal approval
- C.Ignore the requirement until the next phase to avoid further delay
- ✓ D.Submit a change request to incorporate the regulatory requirement through the change control process
- ✓ E.Analyze the impact of the new requirement on scope, schedule, and cost
Why A: As a project manager, you must immediately communicate critical regulatory changes to key stakeholders like the sponsor and compliance officer (A) to ensure transparency, secure support, and align on the urgency. Concurrently, you must analyze the impact of the new requirement on scope, schedule, and cost (E) to understand its full implications. Based on this analysis and initial communication, a formal change request must be submitted through the change control process (D) to incorporate the regulatory requirement, ensuring proper documentation, assessment, and approval, even for mandatory changes. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's emphasis on stakeholder engagement, proactive risk communication, and integrated change control when external mandates impact project constraints.
Variation 5. A new regulatory requirement has been discovered that affects your project's deliverables. The project is halfway through its schedule. What should the project manager do FIRST?
easy- A.Ignore the requirement because the project is already underway
- B.Inform the team to start incorporating the new requirement immediately
- C.Update the project management plan directly to include the change
- ✓ D.Submit a change request to assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Why D: D is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that any change, including a new regulatory requirement, must first be processed through a formal change request to evaluate its impact on scope, schedule, and cost. Since the project is already halfway through its schedule, the project manager must follow the integrated change control process to ensure the change is assessed before any action is taken. This prevents unauthorized changes that could disrupt project baselines.
Variation 6. A new government regulation has been enacted that affects your project's deliverables. The regulation requires additional compliance checks that were not in the original scope. What should you do first?
medium- ✓ A.Submit a change request to incorporate the compliance checks and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
- B.Refuse to comply with the regulation because it increases project costs
- C.Discuss with stakeholders before taking any action
- D.Inform the team to ignore the regulation as it was not part of the original plan
Why A: When a new government regulation impacts your project, the first step is to submit a change request to formally document the required compliance checks and assess their impact on scope, schedule, and cost. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control process, ensuring that the regulation is addressed through a controlled change rather than ad-hoc adjustments. Option A is correct because it initiates the proper change management workflow, which includes impact analysis and stakeholder approval.
Variation 7. During a project, a new regulation is introduced that affects your project's compliance requirements. The team will need to complete additional documentation and training. What is the FIRST thing you should do?
medium- A.Instruct the team to begin working on the new requirements immediately to ensure compliance
- ✓ B.Assess the impact of the regulation on the project and submit a change request
- C.Inform the sponsor and ask for a budget increase
- D.Update the risk register and continue with the current plan
Why B: A new regulation is a change that could impact scope, schedule, and cost. The first step is to assess the impact and then submit a change request to follow the change control process.
JA
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.