PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a hybrid project that uses both predictive and agile approaches. The team has been delivering consistently, but recently the customer requested a critical feature that was not in the original scope. The feature is high value but will require rework of a completed component. What should the project manager do first?
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 the change control board (CCB) to evaluate the impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
To submit a change request through the formal change control process. This ensures proper evaluation and approval before any work begins, aligning with PMI's emphasis on following the change control process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) to evaluate the impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
Why this is correct
In a hybrid project, significant scope changes necessitate a formal change request. This request is submitted to the Change Control Board (CCB) for thorough evaluation of its potential impacts on the project's scope, schedule, and cost baselines. This adherence to the Integrated Change Control process ensures that all modifications are properly assessed, approved, and documented before implementation, maintaining project integrity and alignment with objectives.
- ✗
Add the feature to the product backlog and prioritize it for the next sprint without formal approval.
Why it's wrong here
Adding a new feature directly to the product backlog and prioritizing it without formal approval bypasses the critical Integrated Change Control process. While agile methodologies embrace change, significant scope additions, especially in a hybrid environment, still require evaluation against project baselines and objectives. Unilateral inclusion risks unmanaged scope creep and misallocation of resources without a proper impact assessment.
- ✗
Ask the team to implement the feature immediately to maintain customer satisfaction, and document it later.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing a new feature immediately without any prior assessment or formal approval is a direct violation of the Integrated Change Control process. This approach risks uncontrolled scope creep, potential rework, and adverse impacts on the project's baselines for scope, schedule, and cost. Prioritizing immediate customer satisfaction over due process can lead to long-term project instability and failure to meet overall objectives.
- ✗
Update the project management plan to include the new feature and communicate the change to the team.
Why it's wrong here
Updating the Project Management Plan (PMP) to include a new feature and communicating it to the team *before* formal approval is a procedural error. The PMP is a controlled document, and any changes to its baselines or components must first undergo the Integrated Change Control process and receive explicit authorization. Unilaterally modifying the plan assumes approval that has not been granted, undermining project governance.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
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.
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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.