- A
Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
PMI requires all scope changes to go through Integrated Change Control. The PM must document, assess impact, and obtain approval before proceeding.
- B
Ask the team to begin work on the module immediately to accommodate the stakeholder
Why wrong: Implementing scope changes without going through change control violates the change management process.
- C
Inform the stakeholder that no changes can be made once the project has started
Why wrong: This is incorrect — changes can be made through the formal change control process. Refusing outright without assessment is not the PMI approach.
- D
Add the requirement to the product backlog and let the team address it in a future sprint without formal approval
Why wrong: Adding work to the backlog without change control approval bypasses formal governance and violates the project management plan.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. 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.
You are a project manager overseeing a 12-month ERP implementation. During sprint 6 of 20, the product owner informs you that a key stakeholder wants to add a new reporting module that was not in the original scope. The team estimates this would add 3 weeks to the schedule. What should you 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 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
Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Option A is correct because the addition of a new reporting module represents a change to the approved scope baseline. According to the PMBOK Guide, any change to scope must go through the Integrated Change Control (ICC) process, which includes submitting a formal change request, assessing impacts on scope, schedule, cost, and quality, and obtaining approval before implementation. This ensures that all changes are evaluated and controlled, preventing scope creep and maintaining project alignment with business objectives.
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.
- ✓
Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Why this is correct
PMI requires all scope changes to go through Integrated Change Control. The PM must document, assess impact, and obtain approval before proceeding.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ask the team to begin work on the module immediately to accommodate the stakeholder
Why it's wrong here
Implementing scope changes without going through change control violates the change management process.
- ✗
Inform the stakeholder that no changes can be made once the project has started
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect — changes can be made through the formal change control process. Refusing outright without assessment is not the PMI approach.
- ✗
Add the requirement to the product backlog and let the team address it in a future sprint without formal approval
Why it's wrong here
Adding work to the backlog without change control approval bypasses formal governance and violates the project management plan.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse agile backlog management with formal change control, assuming that adding a requirement to the backlog is sufficient without recognizing that the 3-week schedule impact requires a formal change request to protect the project baseline.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In an ERP implementation using a hybrid or predictive approach, the scope baseline is established during planning and any deviation requires a change request. The ICC process involves evaluating the change against the project management plan, including the schedule baseline (e.g., the 3-week delay), cost baseline (e.g., additional resource costs), and scope statement. Even in agile frameworks like Scrum, significant changes that affect the sprint goal or release plan should be discussed with the product owner and stakeholders, and if they impact the overall project constraints, a formal change request is still recommended to maintain traceability and governance.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
People — Leading Projects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — 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 through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost — Option A is correct because the addition of a new reporting module represents a change to the approved scope baseline. According to the PMBOK Guide, any change to scope must go through the Integrated Change Control (ICC) process, which includes submitting a formal change request, assessing impacts on scope, schedule, cost, and quality, and obtaining approval before implementation. This ensures that all changes are evaluated and controlled, preventing scope creep and maintaining project alignment with business objectives.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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