Question 148 of 892
Process — Managing Technical AspectsmediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Hybrid Project Change Control: First Step When Scope Change Requested | Project Management Professional Explained

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.

You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the customer expresses dissatisfaction with a recently delivered feature and requests a significant redesign. This change will impact the critical path and increase costs. 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 to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation and approval

In a hybrid project, changes impacting the critical path and costs must follow a formal change control process. Submitting a change request to the CCB ensures the redesign is evaluated for feasibility, impact on schedule, budget, and quality before approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control and prevents unauthorized scope creep.

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.

  • Approve the redesign to satisfy the customer and update the project schedule accordingly

    Why it's wrong here

    Approving changes without formal evaluation bypasses change control and may lead to undocumented scope creep.

  • Instruct the team to implement the redesign immediately to maintain customer satisfaction

    Why it's wrong here

    Implementing changes without approval violates the change management plan and can cause uncontrolled scope changes.

  • Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation and approval

    Why this is correct

    Following the change control process allows for impact analysis and informed decision-making.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • Reject the request because it was not part of the original scope agreement

    Why it's wrong here

    Rejecting without evaluation is not proactive; changes can be accommodated through proper processes.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

A common misconception is that customer satisfaction justifies immediate action, but the PMP exam emphasizes adherence to formal change control processes even in agile or hybrid environments.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The CCB evaluates change requests using a structured impact analysis, often employing a weighted scoring model or cost-benefit analysis. In a hybrid approach, the CCB may include both the product owner and technical leads to balance agile responsiveness with governance. Real-world scenarios show that skipping this step can cause cascading delays, as the critical path change may require re-baselining the schedule and re-allocating resources across multiple sprints.

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.

Related practice questions

Related PMP practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

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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: Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation and approval — In a hybrid project, changes impacting the critical path and costs must follow a formal change control process. Submitting a change request to the CCB ensures the redesign is evaluated for feasibility, impact on schedule, budget, and quality before approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control and prevents unauthorized scope creep.

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

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Same concept, more angles

8 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. You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner demonstrates a completed feature to key stakeholders. One stakeholder is impressed and requests an additional functionality that was not in the original scope. The team estimates it would take two additional sprints. What should the project manager do FIRST?

medium
  • A.Add the request to the product backlog and prioritize it in the next sprint planning.
  • B.Ask the development team to quickly estimate the effort and begin work if it can be accommodated without delaying the next release.
  • C.Thank the stakeholder and explain that the request is out of scope; no changes can be made.
  • D.Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) and assess the impact on schedule, cost, and resources.

Why D: In a hybrid project, changes to scope after a sprint review must follow a formal change control process to protect the baseline. Option D is correct because the project manager should first submit a change request to the CCB to assess the impact on schedule, cost, and resources before any work begins, ensuring alignment with the project's governance framework.

Variation 2. You are managing a project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint, the development team discovers a critical security vulnerability that was not identified during risk planning. The fix will require significant rework and will cause the sprint goal to be missed. What should the project manager do FIRST?

hard
  • A.Perform an impact analysis and submit a change request to address the vulnerability
  • B.Instruct the team to fix the vulnerability immediately without formal change control
  • C.Ask the team to work overtime to fix the vulnerability while still achieving the sprint goal
  • D.Allow the team to continue with the sprint and address the vulnerability in a future sprint

Why A: Option A is correct because the project manager should first assess the impact of the security vulnerability on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to formally address the issue. Option B is incorrect because bypassing change control violates project governance, especially in a hybrid approach where change management processes are defined. Option C is incorrect because requiring overtime to achieve the sprint goal ignores the rework impact and could lead to burnout and quality issues. Option D is incorrect because delaying the fix leaves the vulnerability unaddressed, which is unacceptable for a critical security issue.

Variation 3. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a new feature that was not in the backlog. The team believes it can be completed within the current sprint without impacting the sprint goal. What should you do FIRST?

medium
  • A.Submit a change request to the change control board to evaluate the impact on the project.
  • B.Add the feature to the product backlog for prioritization in a future sprint.
  • C.Ask the team to implement the feature immediately since it won't affect the sprint goal.
  • D.Allow the product owner to approve the change since it is within the sprint.

Why A: In a hybrid project, scope changes, even if seemingly minor and within the current sprint, must be formally evaluated to understand their full impact on project objectives, timeline, and budget. The first action should be to submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) so that the potential change is analyzed properly. Option B is not the best first step because adding to the backlog without assessing impact could lead to scope creep or unintended consequences. Option C bypasses the formal process entirely, risking project misalignment. Option D is incorrect because the product owner cannot unilaterally approve scope changes without CCB oversight, especially in a hybrid framework where change control is still required.

Variation 4. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a change that would add a new feature to the current release. The team estimates it will take two additional sprints. What should you do first?

medium
  • A.Ask the team to start working on the new feature immediately to meet the stakeholder's needs
  • B.Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process to assess the impact on scope, schedule, cost, and quality
  • C.Explain that no changes can be made after the sprint review to maintain the schedule
  • D.Add the feature to the backlog and prioritize it for the next release without further analysis

Why B: The correct answer is B because any change that impacts scope, schedule, or cost must first go through Integrated Change Control (ICC) to assess its impact before approval. This aligns with PMI's change management best practices. Option A bypasses formal control, Option C is too rigid for a hybrid approach, and Option D delays analysis but does not initiate proper governance.

Variation 5. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During the sprint review, the product owner is satisfied with the deliverables, but one key stakeholder requests a significant change that would add a new feature. The team has already started planning the next sprint. What should you do FIRST?

medium
  • A.Refuse the change because the scope was already agreed upon during sprint planning.
  • B.Ask the team to include the new feature in the next sprint since it's a high priority for the stakeholder.
  • C.Advise the stakeholder to wait until the project is complete and then submit an enhancement request.
  • D.Submit a change request to the change control board for evaluation and approval.

Why D: In a hybrid project, changes are managed through a formal change control process. The stakeholder's request for a new feature is a significant change that must be evaluated for impact on scope, schedule, and budget before any action is taken. Submitting a change request to the change control board (CCB) ensures proper governance and prevents unauthorized scope creep, which is critical when the team has already begun planning the next sprint.

Variation 6. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a significant change to a feature that has already been accepted in a previous sprint. The change would require rework and impact the critical path. What should you do FIRST?

medium
  • A.Add the change to the product backlog for a future sprint without formal approval
  • B.Submit a change request and evaluate the impact on the project constraints
  • C.Instruct the team to implement the change immediately to maintain stakeholder satisfaction
  • D.Reject the change because the feature was already accepted

Why B: In a hybrid project, changes to accepted deliverables must follow a formal change control process. Submitting a change request (Option B) ensures the impact on the critical path, schedule, and budget is evaluated before any rework begins, aligning with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on integrated change control.

Variation 7. You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. In the middle of a sprint, you discover that a team member has been working on a feature that was de-scoped in the last sprint review. The team member claims the product owner informally agreed to add it back. What should you do FIRST?

medium
  • A.Ask the product owner to formally document the agreement and add it to the backlog
  • B.Stop work on the feature and initiate a change request through the change control process
  • C.Allow the team member to continue since the product owner agreed
  • D.Escalate to the project sponsor for a decision

Why B: In a hybrid project, scope changes must follow a formal change control process to maintain baseline integrity. The team member's informal agreement with the product owner bypasses this, risking scope creep and unapproved work. Stopping work and initiating a change request ensures proper evaluation of impact on schedule, budget, and sprint goals before proceeding.

Variation 8. You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. Midway through, the customer requests a new feature that was not in the original scope. The team estimates it will add two weeks to the schedule. What should you do FIRST?

medium
  • A.Refuse the request, as the scope was already finalized
  • B.Ask the team to start working on the feature to keep the customer happy
  • C.Add the feature to the product backlog and prioritize it for the next release
  • D.Submit a change request and conduct an impact analysis

Why D: In a hybrid project, changes to scope must follow a formal change control process. Option D is correct because submitting a change request and conducting an impact analysis ensures the feature's effect on cost, schedule, and quality is evaluated before any action is taken, aligning with both predictive and agile governance.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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