PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
In the middle of a project, a new regulation is introduced that impacts your project's deliverables. The team needs to make adjustments, but the change will affect the critical path. What should you do first?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the immediate need to assess impact (Option A) with the formal first step of submitting a change request, failing to recognize that the change control process must be initiated before any analysis or action is taken.
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 formally assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
When a new regulation impacts project deliverables and the critical path, the first step is to submit a formal change request. This initiates the integrated change control process, ensuring that the impact on scope, schedule, and cost is assessed through a structured review before any action is taken. Bypassing this formal process risks uncontrolled changes and non-compliance with project governance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the risk register and assess the impact on the critical path
Why it's wrong here
This is part of the analysis, but the first step should be initiating a change request.
- ✓
Submit a change request to formally assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Why this is correct
Following the change control process ensures proper evaluation and approval.
- ✗
Direct the team to immediately implement the changes to ensure compliance
Why it's wrong here
Changes should go through formal assessment and approval first.
- ✗
Inform the team to continue working as planned since the regulation may not be enforced
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring regulatory changes can expose the project to legal risks.
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.
About these practice questions
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JA
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.