PMP Change Control Process Practice Question
During a project status meeting, an executive stakeholder informs the team that they have instructed a developer to add a new feature to the product without going through the change control process. The developer has already completed the work. What should the project manager do NEXT?
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
✓
Document the change and submit a retroactive change request to the change control board
The project manager should document the change and submit a retroactive change request to the change control board to formally assess the impact and validate the work. This ensures proper governance while acknowledging the completed work. Option A is wrong because ignoring the change without documentation sets a bad precedent and bypasses change control. Option B is wrong because removing the new feature without assessment may cause rework and stakeholder dissatisfaction. Option C is wrong because asking the executive to reverse immediately may damage the relationship and does not address the need for formal assessment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Inform the executive that this violates the change control process and ignore the change
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect because ignoring an executive-mandated change, even if it bypasses process, is an ineffective and potentially damaging approach. It fails to address the actual work initiated, creates unmanaged scope, and can severely strain the relationship with a key stakeholder. A project manager's role is to manage changes, not to dismiss them outright, which would lead to unacknowledged work and potential project failure.
- ✗
Remove the new feature from the product
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect because unilaterally removing a new feature, especially one initiated by an executive, is a reactive and unmanaged response. Such an action would likely cause significant rework if the feature was already partially implemented, lead to immediate stakeholder dissatisfaction, and escalate the issue by directly contradicting an executive's input without proper analysis or communication. It bypasses any formal assessment of value or impact.
- ✗
Ask the executive to reverse the change immediately
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect because directly asking an executive to reverse a change immediately is confrontational and likely to damage the crucial stakeholder relationship. This approach fails to acknowledge the executive's input or the potential value of the change, instead demanding an immediate reversal without any formal impact analysis, discussion, or a constructive path forward for integrating the change into the project.
- ✓
Document the change and submit a retroactive change request to the change control board
Why this is correct
This option is correct because it appropriately balances acknowledging the executive's input with adhering to project governance. Documenting the change ensures it is formally recognized and tracked, while submitting a retroactive change request allows the Change Control Board (CCB) to properly assess its impact on scope, schedule, cost, and quality. This formal process integrates the change into the project baseline in a controlled manner, mitigating risks and maintaining project integrity.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
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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