The answer is to analyze the impact on the triple constraint and then submit a change request to the change control board. These two actions are correct because when a new regulation affects project scope and schedule, the project manager must first understand the full implications on cost, time, and quality before formally proposing any adjustments. This impact analysis provides the objective data needed to justify the change request, which is then submitted to the CCB for approval, ensuring compliance with the formal change control process. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Perform Integrated Change Control process and the critical distinction between analyzing a change and immediately implementing it. A common trap is to skip the analysis and jump straight to updating the project management plan or schedule. Remember the mnemonic “Analyze, then Authorize” — never submit a change request without first quantifying its impact on the triple constraint.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 new regulatory requirement has been discovered mid-project. The change will affect the project scope and schedule. Which TWO actions should the project manager take FIRST? (Choose two)
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Analyze the impact of the regulation on scope, schedule, and cost
Option A is correct because the first step when a new regulatory requirement emerges mid-project is to analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost). This analysis provides the data needed to determine whether a change request is warranted and what its implications will be. Without this impact analysis, the project manager cannot make an informed decision or properly communicate the change to stakeholders.
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.
✓
Analyze the impact of the regulation on scope, schedule, and cost
Why this is correct
Understanding the impact is necessary before proposing changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Submit a change request to the change control board for approval
Why this is correct
Formal change control is required for scope/schedule changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Inform the team to ignore the regulation until the project is complete
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring regulations can have legal consequences.
✗
Update the risk register and move on
Why it's wrong here
The regulation is a certainty, not a risk; action is needed beyond updating the register.
✗
Immediately instruct the team to implement the changes to ensure compliance
Why it's wrong here
Changes must go through change control first.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think immediate action (Option E) or risk register updates (Option D) are sufficient, but the PMBOK mandates a structured change control process where impact analysis precedes any implementation or approval.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a regulatory requirement is a constraint that must be integrated into the project baseline. The impact analysis should consider not only direct scope changes but also downstream effects on dependencies, resource allocation, and quality metrics. In a real-world scenario, such as a GDPR compliance update mid-project, the PM must assess how the new data handling rules affect existing deliverables, then submit a formal change request with the analyzed data for CCB approval.
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.
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: Analyze the impact of the regulation on scope, schedule, and cost — Option A is correct because the first step when a new regulatory requirement emerges mid-project is to analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost). This analysis provides the data needed to determine whether a change request is warranted and what its implications will be. Without this impact analysis, the project manager cannot make an informed decision or properly communicate the change to stakeholders.
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 →
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 the project manager for a global, virtual team. Which TWO actions would be MOST effective in building trust and collaboration among team members?
medium
✓ A.Schedule regular video calls where team members can share personal updates and non-work-related topics
✓ B.Implement a collaboration platform with shared workspaces and real-time communication channels
C.Organize a one-time team-building workshop at the start of the project
D.Rotate meeting times so each time zone is inconvenienced equally
E.Require all team members to participate in daily informal chat sessions
Why A: Option A is correct because regular video calls with personal updates foster psychological safety and interpersonal bonds, which are critical for trust in virtual teams. This aligns with the PMI Talent Triangle's emphasis on emotional intelligence and team building, as video calls provide richer non-verbal cues than audio-only communication, reducing the sense of isolation in distributed teams.
Variation 2. A new government regulation has been announced that will affect your project's deliverables. The regulation will take effect in three months, and your project is scheduled to complete in six months. What should the project manager do FIRST?
easy
A.Inform the team and continue with the current plan, assuming the regulation may not affect the project
B.Fast-track the project to complete before the regulation takes effect
C.Ask the legal department to interpret the regulation and wait for their response before acting
✓ D.Assess the impact of the regulation and submit a change request to address necessary adjustments
Why D: Option D is correct because the PMBOK Guide requires the project manager to first assess the impact of any external change, such as a new regulation, on the project's scope, schedule, cost, and quality before taking action. Only after this analysis should a change request be submitted through the formal integrated change control process to adjust the project plan. Ignoring the regulation or acting without analysis violates the principle of proactive risk management and the change control system.
Variation 3. A new regulation is announced that will affect your project's deliverables. The compliance team has determined that the project must adapt to the new regulation before completion. What should the project manager do FIRST?
easy
✓ A.Submit a change request to the change control board with an analysis of the impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
B.Update the risk register and continue with the original plan until the change request is approved.
C.Instruct the team to implement the necessary changes immediately to ensure compliance.
D.Ask the sponsor to approve an exception to the change control process due to regulatory urgency.
Why A: The correct first step is to submit a formal change request with an impact analysis because the new regulation represents a change that must be evaluated and approved through the established change control process. This ensures that scope, schedule, and cost impacts are documented and authorized before any work begins, maintaining project governance and compliance with organizational policies.
Variation 4. A new regulatory requirement has been discovered that will affect your project's deliverables. The requirement is mandatory and must be implemented before the project can close. Your team has the skills to implement it, but it will add two months to the schedule. The sponsor is pushing for the original deadline. What should you do FIRST?
hard
A.Refuse to implement the requirement because it will delay the project
B.Inform the sponsor that the deadline cannot be met and begin working on the requirement
✓ C.Analyze the impact on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB)
D.Ask the team to implement the requirement while working overtime to minimize schedule impact
Why C: Option C is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that when a mandatory regulatory requirement emerges, the project manager must first analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost) and then follow the formal change control process. Submitting a change request to the CCB ensures that the decision is documented, approved, and communicated, protecting the project from unauthorized changes and scope creep. This aligns with the 'Perform Integrated Change Control' process and the 'People' domain's emphasis on stakeholder engagement and governance.
Variation 5. During a project audit, a new regulatory requirement is discovered that affects your project's deliverables. The compliance team says it must be implemented immediately. Your project is already behind schedule. Which THREE actions should you take?
medium
✓ A.Communicate the situation to key stakeholders, including the sponsor and compliance officer
B.Instruct the team to implement the requirement immediately without formal approval
C.Ignore the requirement until the next phase to avoid further delay
✓ D.Submit a change request to incorporate the regulatory requirement through the change control process
✓ E.Analyze the impact of the new requirement on scope, schedule, and cost
Why A: Option A is correct: assess the impact. Option B is correct: submit a change request. Option C is correct: communicate with stakeholders. Option D is wrong because ignoring is illegal. Option E is wrong because gold-plating is not recommended.
Variation 6. A new regulatory requirement has been discovered that affects your project's deliverables. The project is halfway through its schedule. What should the project manager do FIRST?
easy
A.Ignore the requirement because the project is already underway
B.Inform the team to start incorporating the new requirement immediately
C.Update the project management plan directly to include the change
✓ D.Submit a change request to assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Why D: D is correct because the PMBOK Guide mandates that any change, including a new regulatory requirement, must first be processed through a formal change request to evaluate its impact on scope, schedule, and cost. Since the project is already halfway through its schedule, the project manager must follow the integrated change control process to ensure the change is assessed before any action is taken. This prevents unauthorized changes that could disrupt project baselines.
Variation 7. A new government regulation has been enacted that affects your project's deliverables. The regulation requires additional compliance checks that were not in the original scope. What should you do first?
medium
✓ A.Submit a change request to incorporate the compliance checks and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
B.Refuse to comply with the regulation because it increases project costs
C.Discuss with stakeholders before taking any action
D.Inform the team to ignore the regulation as it was not part of the original plan
Why A: Option B is correct because new regulations often require a change request through integrated change control. Option A is wrong because ignoring the regulation could lead to non-compliance. Option C is wrong because rejecting the regulation outright is not feasible. Option D is wrong because the PM should assess impact before discussing with stakeholders.
Variation 8. During a project, a new regulation is introduced that affects your project's compliance requirements. The team will need to complete additional documentation and training. What is the FIRST thing you should do?
medium
A.Instruct the team to begin working on the new requirements immediately to ensure compliance
✓ B.Assess the impact of the regulation on the project and submit a change request
C.Inform the sponsor and ask for a budget increase
D.Update the risk register and continue with the current plan
Why B: A new regulation is a change that could impact scope, schedule, and cost. The first step is to assess the impact and then submit a change request to follow the change control process.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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