The answer is to submit a change request and evaluate the impact on cost, schedule, and resources. This is correct because in a hybrid project, even a value-adding scope change that does not affect the critical path must still follow the formal integrated change control process outlined in the PMBOK Guide; bypassing this step risks unmanaged trade-offs in budget or resource allocation. On the Project Management Professional PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding that hybrid projects blend predictive and adaptive frameworks, meaning any scope change requires a documented request and impact analysis regardless of perceived benefit or critical path status. A common trap is assuming the change is safe because it adds value or avoids the critical path, but the exam emphasizes that all changes need formal evaluation to maintain control. Remember the memory tip: “Value doesn’t void the process—always submit and assess.”
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.
A project manager is leading a hybrid project. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a significant scope change that would increase the product's value. The change does not affect the project's critical path. What should the PM do?
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 and evaluate the impact on cost, schedule, and resources
Option A is correct because in a hybrid project, any scope change—even one that adds value and doesn't affect the critical path—must go through a formal change control process. The project manager should submit a change request to evaluate the full impact on cost, schedule, and resources before approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control and ensures that trade-offs are understood and documented.
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 and evaluate the impact on cost, schedule, and resources
Why this is correct
Proper change control ensures all impacts are assessed and approved before implementation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Refuse the change because the scope was already agreed upon
Why it's wrong here
Refusing without evaluation is not optimal; changes can be accommodated through proper process.
✗
Ask the team to implement the change immediately since it adds value
Why it's wrong here
Implementing without approval bypasses change control and risks scope creep.
✗
Add the change to the product backlog for future prioritization without formal approval
Why it's wrong here
Even in agile, changes that impact scope need evaluation and approval per the project's governance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a value-adding change with no critical path impact can be handled informally via the backlog, but the PMP exam requires formal change control for any scope change, regardless of perceived benefit or schedule impact.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In hybrid projects, the change control process often combines a formal change request for scope changes with the flexibility of a prioritized backlog. Even if the critical path is unaffected, changes can introduce new risks, resource contention, or quality issues that require impact analysis. Real-world scenarios, such as adding a new feature in a software sprint, may seem low-risk but can cascade into technical debt or integration problems if not formally assessed.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
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 and evaluate the impact on cost, schedule, and resources — Option A is correct because in a hybrid project, any scope change—even one that adds value and doesn't affect the critical path—must go through a formal change control process. The project manager should submit a change request to evaluate the full impact on cost, schedule, and resources before approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control and ensures that trade-offs are understood and documented.
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.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.