PMP Integrated Change Control Practice Question
You are a project manager overseeing a 12-month ERP implementation. During sprint 6 of 20, the product owner informs you that a key stakeholder wants to add a new reporting module that was not in the original scope. The team estimates this would add 3 weeks to the schedule. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Do not confuse agile backlog management with formal change control. Even in an agile context, if scope is formally agreed upon, any new feature that significantly impacts schedule requires a change request.
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 through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
According to PMI, any change to scope must go through the Integrated Change Control process. The project manager must first submit a change request to formally assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost before obtaining approval. Option A is wrong because adding to the backlog without formal approval bypasses change control. Option B is wrong because starting work immediately violates the change control process. Option C is wrong because refusing changes outright without assessment is not appropriate; changes can be made through proper control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add the requirement to the product backlog and let the team address it in a future sprint without formal approval
Why it's wrong here
Adding work to the backlog without change control approval bypasses formal governance and violates the project management plan.
- ✗
Ask the team to begin work on the module immediately to accommodate the stakeholder
Why it's wrong here
Beginning work immediately bypasses the formal change control process required by the PMBOK for scope changes that impact the schedule baseline. The project manager must first assess the change request through the integrated change control system, evaluating trade-offs against the triple constraint, before authorising any work. This option is tempting because it appears to satisfy a powerful stakeholder quickly, and it would be correct only if the project had a pre-approved contingency budget and a flexible schedule buffer explicitly designated for unplanned stakeholder requests.
- ✗
Inform the stakeholder that no changes can be made once the project has started
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect — changes can be made through the formal change control process. Refusing outright without assessment is not the PMI approach.
- ✓
Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost
Why this is correct
PMI requires all scope changes to go through Integrated Change Control. The PM must document, assess impact, and obtain approval before proceeding.
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.
Key term
Scrum Methodology
Scrum is a lightweight process framework that helps teams deliver complex projects in small, iterative chunks called sprints.
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