The answer is to submit a change request to the change control board. This is the correct first step because the PMBOK Guide’s integrated change control process mandates that any change impacting scope, schedule, and cost must be formally documented and evaluated by the CCB before implementation. The project manager’s role is to assess the impact and then submit the request, not to approve or reject it unilaterally. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the change control process and the project manager’s authority boundaries; a common trap is choosing to “reject the change” or “negotiate with the stakeholder” first, which bypasses the governance framework. Remember the memory tip: “Document before you decide”—always log the change request before any other action, even if the impact seems clear.
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 project execution, a key stakeholder requests a new feature that is not in the scope. The project manager determines that the change will impact the schedule by 3 weeks and increase costs by $50,000. What should the project manager 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
✓
Submit a change request to the change control board
The correct first step when a change request impacts scope, schedule, and cost is to submit a formal change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control process, which requires all changes to be documented and reviewed before any action is taken. The project manager must not accept or reject the change unilaterally, as that would bypass the established governance framework.
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.
✗
Accept the change and update the project management plan
Why it's wrong here
Accepting without formal approval violates change control procedures.
✗
Reject the change because it is out of scope
Why it's wrong here
Rejection should be done by the CCB, not the project manager alone.
✗
Analyze alternatives to minimize the impact
Why it's wrong here
Analysis should be part of the change request evaluation, not the first step.
✓
Submit a change request to the change control board
Why this is correct
A formal change request is required to evaluate and approve the change.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think the project manager should immediately analyze alternatives (Option C) to minimize impact, but the PMP exam emphasizes that the first step is always to submit a formal change request to the CCB, not to preemptively analyze or decide on the change.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In the PMBOK Guide, the Perform Integrated Change Control process requires that all change requests be documented in a change log and reviewed by the CCB, which has the authority to approve or reject changes that impact baselines. The project manager's role is to facilitate the process, not to make unilateral decisions on scope changes. A real-world scenario where this matters is when a key stakeholder requests a feature that could be implemented via a workaround; the CCB might approve a less impactful alternative after formal review, but the project manager must first submit the request to initiate that analysis.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Submit a change request to the change control board — The correct first step when a change request impacts scope, schedule, and cost is to submit a formal change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control process, which requires all changes to be documented and reviewed before any action is taken. The project manager must not accept or reject the change unilaterally, as that would bypass the established governance framework.
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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