The answer is to update the schedule baseline and inform all stakeholders of the approved change. This is correct because once the change control board (CCB) approves a scope increase, the project manager must formally integrate that change into the project management plan by updating the affected baseline—in this case, the schedule baseline to reflect the two-week delay—and then communicate the approved change to all relevant stakeholders per the Manage Communications process. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Perform Integrated Change Control process and the sequence of steps after a change is approved; a common trap is to think the project manager should immediately implement the change without first updating the plan or to assume only the requester needs notification. Remember the memory tip: “Approve, Update, Inform”—the CCB approves, you update the baseline, then inform everyone.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
During a project, a key stakeholder requests a change that will increase the project scope. The project manager evaluates the impact and determines it will add two weeks to the schedule but no additional cost. The change request is approved by the change control board (CCB). What should the project manager do next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Update the schedule baseline and inform all stakeholders of the approved change.
Option A is correct because, after the CCB approves a change that increases scope, the project manager must update the schedule baseline to reflect the approved two-week delay. This ensures the project plan remains accurate and serves as the basis for performance measurement. Informing all stakeholders of the approved change is a key communication requirement per the PMBOK Guide's Manage Communications process.
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.
✓
Update the schedule baseline and inform all stakeholders of the approved change.
Why this is correct
The schedule baseline is part of the project management plan and must be updated to reflect the change, then communicate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reject the change because it will delay the project.
Why it's wrong here
The change was approved by the CCB, so the PM must implement it.
✗
Instruct the project team to begin working on the additional scope immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Working without updating the plan can lead to confusion and lack of documentation.
✗
Update the work breakdown structure (WBS) and communicate the change to the project team.
Why it's wrong here
The WBS should be updated after the plan is updated, but the immediate next step is to update the schedule baseline.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the order of actions after CCB approval, mistakenly thinking that communicating to the team or updating the WBS should come before updating the schedule baseline, but the baseline must be formally revised first to maintain control over the project plan.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Working without updating the plan can lead to confusion and lack of documentation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the schedule baseline is a component of the project management plan that is formally controlled through integrated change control. Updating it involves recalculating the critical path and adjusting resource calendars to accommodate the two-week addition. In a real-world scenario, failing to update the baseline before communicating the change can lead to confusion in earned value management (EVM) calculations, where the planned value (PV) would no longer align with the approved schedule.
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.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update the schedule baseline and inform all stakeholders of the approved change. — Option A is correct because, after the CCB approves a change that increases scope, the project manager must update the schedule baseline to reflect the approved two-week delay. This ensures the project plan remains accurate and serves as the basis for performance measurement. Informing all stakeholders of the approved change is a key communication requirement per the PMBOK Guide's Manage Communications process.
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.
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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