PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to 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.
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
✓
Update the schedule baseline and inform all stakeholders of the approved change.
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.
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
When a change is approved by the Change Control Board (CCB), it becomes a formal part of the project's authorized scope. The schedule baseline, a critical component of the project management plan, must be formally updated to reflect this new agreement, ensuring all future progress is measured against the revised plan. Subsequently, informing all relevant stakeholders is paramount for maintaining transparency, managing expectations, and ensuring everyone operates with the most current project information, aligning with the Communication Management Plan.
- ✗
Reject the change because it will delay the project.
Why it's wrong here
A project manager's role is to implement changes once they have been formally approved by the Change Control Board (CCB). Rejecting an already approved change, regardless of its potential impact on the schedule, is a violation of the Integrated Change Control process and the PM's delegated authority. The PM's responsibility shifts from evaluating the change's impact to executing it efficiently and managing its consequences within the project framework.
- ✗
Instruct the project team to begin working on the additional scope immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Initiating work on an approved change without first updating the project management plan, including baselines and relevant subsidiary plans, is a critical misstep in project execution. This premature action bypasses formal planning processes, leading to potential confusion regarding scope, schedule, cost, and resource allocation. It also undermines the integrity of the project baselines, making it impossible to accurately track performance against the new approved scope and potentially causing rework or uncontrolled scope creep.
- ✗
Update the work breakdown structure (WBS) and communicate the change to the project team.
Why it's wrong here
While the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) may indeed need updating to reflect new scope details, it is a component derived from the scope baseline, which itself is part of the project management plan. The immediate and overarching step after CCB approval is to update the formal project baselines, such as the schedule baseline, which provides the high-level control for the project. Furthermore, communicating only to the project team is insufficient; all relevant stakeholders, including sponsors and customers, must be informed of approved changes to maintain transparency and manage expectations across the entire stakeholder community.
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