The answer is to submit a change request to the change control board to assess the impact and obtain approval. This is correct because any deviation from the approved project baseline, such as when a new regulation impacts project scope by requiring additional resources and a schedule extension, must be processed through the formal Integrated Change Control process. On the Project Management Professional PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding that a project manager does not have unilateral authority to alter baselines; the first step is always to document the proposed change and let the board evaluate the trade-offs. A common trap is to immediately escalate to management or implement the change yourself, but the PMBOK Guide emphasizes that the change control board is the gatekeeper for all baseline modifications. Remember the mnemonic “CAB before you grab”—always submit to the Change Approval Board before grabbing new resources or extending the schedule.
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 new regulation impacting your construction project was announced. The compliance team says the project must incorporate additional safety inspections, which will require extra resources and extend the schedule. 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 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 to assess the impact and obtain approval
Option A is correct because any change to the project baseline must go through the Integrated Change Control process. Option B is wrong because ignoring the regulation is not an option. Option C is wrong because the PM should not implement changes without approval. Option D is wrong because the PM should first assess impact before escalating.
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.
✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for decision
Why it's wrong here
The PM should first assess impact and prepare a change request before escalating.
✓
Submit a change request to the change control board to assess the impact and obtain approval
Why this is correct
Formal change control is required for any changes impacting scope, schedule, or cost.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Instruct the team to start implementing the additional inspections immediately
Why it's wrong here
Implementing changes without approval bypasses the change control process.
✗
Ignore the regulation since it was not part of the original project scope
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring a mandatory regulation could lead to legal penalties and project failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 to the change control board to assess the impact and obtain approval — Option A is correct because any change to the project baseline must go through the Integrated Change Control process. Option B is wrong because ignoring the regulation is not an option. Option C is wrong because the PM should not implement changes without approval. Option D is wrong because the PM should first assess impact before escalating.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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. Your project is in the execution phase when a new government regulation is announced that could affect your project's compliance requirements. The regulation is not yet in effect but will be before project completion. What should you do FIRST?
hard
✓ A.Analyze the regulation's impact on the project and initiate a change request if needed
B.Inform the team to assume compliance and adjust their work accordingly
C.Stop all project work until the regulation is clarified
D.Continue the project as planned since the regulation is not yet in effect
Why A: Option A is correct because the PMBOK Guide requires that when a new regulation is announced, the project manager must first analyze its impact on the project's compliance requirements. Since the regulation will be in effect before project completion, proactive assessment is needed to determine if a change request is necessary to align the project with future legal obligations. This follows the 'plan-do-check-act' cycle and ensures the project remains compliant without unnecessary disruption.
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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
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