Question 325 of 892

Process — Managing Technical Aspects →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question

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 a project's execution phase, a new regulatory requirement is discovered that will impact the project scope. The requirement is mandatory and must be implemented. What is the first action the project manager should take?

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.

A
Inform the sponsor and ask for a decision
Why wrong: While informing the sponsor is important, the PM should first formally document the change request for proper review.
B
Instruct the team to implement the requirement immediately to ensure compliance
Why wrong: Implementing without a change request bypasses the change control process, even for mandatory requirements.
C
Submit a change request describing the new requirement and its impact on scope, schedule, and cost
All changes, including mandatory ones, must go through the change control process to assess impact and obtain approval.
D
Update the project management plan to include the new requirement without formal approval
Why wrong: Updating the plan without approval violates the change control process.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 describing the new requirement and its impact on scope, schedule, and cost

Option C is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that any change impacting scope, schedule, or cost must be formally documented and processed through the Integrated Change Control (ICC) process. A change request is the first formal step to capture the new regulatory requirement, its impact on the project baselines, and to obtain approval before implementation. This ensures compliance with the regulatory mandate while maintaining project governance and traceability.

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.

✗
Inform the sponsor and ask for a decision
Why it's wrong here
While informing the sponsor is important, the PM should first formally document the change request for proper review.
✗
Instruct the team to implement the requirement immediately to ensure compliance
Why it's wrong here
Implementing without a change request bypasses the change control process, even for mandatory requirements.
✓
Submit a change request describing the new requirement and its impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Why this is correct
All changes, including mandatory ones, must go through the change control process to assess impact and obtain approval.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Update the project management plan to include the new requirement without formal approval
Why it's wrong here
Updating the plan without approval violates the change control process.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates confuse 'mandatory' with 'immediate implementation,' forgetting that even mandatory changes must follow the formal change control process to maintain baseline integrity and project governance.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, the Integrated Change Control process (PMBOK 4.6) requires that all changes to baselines (scope, schedule, cost) be evaluated for impact, documented in a change request, and approved by the Change Control Board (CCB) or authorized stakeholder. In regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance), a mandatory regulatory change still requires a formal change request to update the project charter, scope statement, WBS, and schedule—ensuring the change is auditable and traceable. A real-world scenario: a new GDPR requirement during a software project would trigger a change request to assess impact on data handling features, cost for compliance updates, and schedule for testing, rather than immediate implementation.

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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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 describing the new requirement and its impact on scope, schedule, and cost — Option C is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that any change impacting scope, schedule, or cost must be formally documented and processed through the Integrated Change Control (ICC) process. A change request is the first formal step to capture the new regulatory requirement, its impact on the project baselines, and to obtain approval before implementation. This ensures compliance with the regulatory mandate while maintaining project governance and traceability.

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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