PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
During project execution, a key stakeholder requests that the project manager bypass the formal change control process to expedite a change. The stakeholder argues that the change is minor and will not affect the budget or schedule. What should the project manager do?
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
✓
Explain that all changes must follow the change control process and proceed accordingly
Per PMI standards, all changes, regardless of perceived impact, must go through the formal change control process to ensure proper evaluation, approval, and documentation. Bypassing the process, even for minor changes, undermines project governance and can lead to scope creep, undocumented changes, and stakeholder misalignment. Option A is incorrect because agreeing to bypass the process violates change control procedures. Option B is incorrect because escalation to the sponsor is not an appropriate alternative; the issue is about following the process, not about authority. Option C is incorrect because implementing first and documenting later still bypasses the process and may cause undocumented changes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Agree to bypass the process since the change is minor
Why it's wrong here
Agreeing to bypass the formal change control process, even for a seemingly minor change, sets a dangerous precedent and violates fundamental project management principles. Minor changes, when accumulated without proper review, can lead to significant scope creep, budget overruns, and schedule delays that undermine project objectives. Adherence to the defined process is crucial for maintaining control and accountability across all project aspects.
- ✗
Escalate the request to the project sponsor for approval
Why it's wrong here
Escalating the request directly to the project sponsor for approval bypasses the established change control process and the Change Control Board (CCB), if one exists. While the sponsor may ultimately approve significant changes, the initial step should always be to process the request through the defined change control system, which includes impact analysis and review by relevant stakeholders or the CCB. This ensures a systematic and informed decision-making process, rather than an ad-hoc approval.
- ✗
Implement the change and document it later
Why it's wrong here
Implementing a change before it has been formally reviewed and approved through the change control process is a significant deviation from proper project governance. This approach bypasses critical impact analysis, potentially introducing unforeseen risks, cost overruns, or schedule delays without proper authorization. Documenting it later does not rectify the initial breach of process and can lead to undocumented work or rework if the change is ultimately rejected.
- ✓
Explain that all changes must follow the change control process and proceed accordingly
Why this is correct
This is the correct action as it upholds project governance and the integrity of the project baselines. The project manager must ensure that all proposed changes, regardless of their perceived magnitude or the stakeholder's influence, are formally submitted, analyzed for impact, and approved or rejected according to the established change control process. This ensures transparency, traceability, and controlled evolution of the project scope, schedule, and budget.
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.
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
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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.