- A
Implement the change as it provides clear business value.
Why wrong: Changes must go through the formal change control process.
- B
Reject the change because it increases scope beyond the approved baseline.
Why wrong: Changes can be considered if they provide value; rejection requires analysis.
- C
Document the change request and analyze its impact on the project constraints.
The first step is to document and analyze the impact of the change request.
- D
Present the change to the Change Control Board (CCB) for approval.
Why wrong: The change must first be documented and analyzed before presenting to the CCB.
Question 852 of 892
First Step in Change Control Process
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 change that will increase project scope by 15% but will also reduce operational costs by 20% after deployment. The project is currently on schedule and under budget. The project manager should 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
✓
Document the change request and analyze its impact on the project constraints.
Option C is correct because, per the PMBOK Guide, the project manager must first document any change request and analyze its impact on the project constraints (scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, and risk) before any decision is made. Even though the change appears beneficial, the formal change control process requires a documented impact analysis to ensure the trade-offs are fully understood and the change is properly evaluated against the project's baselines.
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.
- ✗
Implement the change as it provides clear business value.
Why it's wrong here
Changes must go through the formal change control process.
- ✗
Reject the change because it increases scope beyond the approved baseline.
Why it's wrong here
Changes can be considered if they provide value; rejection requires analysis.
- ✓
Document the change request and analyze its impact on the project constraints.
Why this is correct
The first step is to document and analyze the impact of the change request.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Present the change to the Change Control Board (CCB) for approval.
Why it's wrong here
The change must first be documented and analyzed before presenting to the CCB.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a change with clear business value can be implemented immediately, ignoring the mandatory first step of documenting and analyzing the change request before any decision or escalation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The change control process is a structured workflow that ensures every change is evaluated for its effect on the project's triple constraint (scope, time, cost) and other constraints like quality and risk. In this scenario, the 15% scope increase might require additional resources or schedule adjustments that could offset the 20% operational cost savings, and only a detailed impact analysis can reveal such trade-offs. Real-world projects often fail because changes are approved based on perceived benefits without rigorous analysis of downstream impacts, such as integration testing or deployment delays.
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.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
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: Document the change request and analyze its impact on the project constraints. — Option C is correct because, per the PMBOK Guide, the project manager must first document any change request and analyze its impact on the project constraints (scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, and risk) before any decision is made. Even though the change appears beneficial, the formal change control process requires a documented impact analysis to ensure the trade-offs are fully understood and the change is properly evaluated against the project's baselines.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During a project's execution phase, you receive a change request from a stakeholder that would improve the product's performance but is not required by the original specifications. The change is estimated to add 2 weeks to the schedule and $10,000 to the budget. The project is currently on schedule and under budget. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Instruct the team to implement the change and adjust the project plan later
- B.Approve the change since the project has contingency
- ✓ C.Perform an impact analysis and submit the change request to the CCB
- D.Reject the change because it is out of scope
Why C: The PM should first assess the impact of the change on the project constraints (scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk) and then present the analysis to the CCB for a decision. Proceeding without approval or rejecting outright are not appropriate.
Variation 2. During a project's execution phase, a key stakeholder requests a change that would add a new feature. The project manager estimates the impact: 2 additional weeks to schedule and $15,000 to budget. The project currently has 0 schedule reserve and $5,000 contingency reserve. What should the project manager do first?
medium- A.Approve the change using contingency reserve and inform the stakeholder
- B.Implement the change immediately since the stakeholder is key
- C.Reject the change because there is insufficient reserve
- ✓ D.Document the change request and conduct a formal impact analysis
Why D: Option D is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that all change requests must be formally documented and analyzed for impact before any approval or rejection. Even though the project has a contingency reserve, the change introduces a new feature, which is a scope change requiring a formal change control process. The project manager must first document the request and conduct a thorough impact analysis to assess alternatives, risks, and stakeholder implications before deciding on the change.
Variation 3. During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a change that will increase the scope. The project manager follows the formal change control process. What is the first step the project manager should take?
easy- A.Communicate the change to the project team.
- B.Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB).
- ✓ C.Document the change request in the change log.
- D.Analyze the impact on the project constraints.
Why C: Option C is correct because the first step in the formal change control process, as defined by the PMBOK Guide, is to document the change request in the change log. This ensures that all proposed changes are formally recorded and tracked before any analysis or approval activities occur. Without this initial documentation, there is no official record of the request, which undermines the integrity of the change control system.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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