PMP Change Control Process Practice Question
You are managing a pharmaceutical research project that is subject to strict regulatory compliance. Mid-project, a new regulation requires additional testing that will add 4 weeks to the schedule and $50,000 in costs. The sponsor is anxious about the delay. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMP often tests the order of operations in change control — candidates frequently choose to 'act immediately' or 'inform the sponsor' instead of following the formal change request and CCB approval process, especially when the change is mandatory.
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 with the impact analysis to the change control board for approval
In a regulated pharmaceutical project, a new regulation that adds scope, schedule, and cost is a change that must go through the integrated change control process. The FIRST action is to submit a change request with a documented impact analysis to the change control board (CCB) for approval. This ensures the change is evaluated, approved, and baselined before any work begins, preserving compliance and auditability.
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 with the impact analysis to the change control board for approval
Why this is correct
This is the correct first step in managing any significant project change, including those driven by new regulatory requirements. The Project Manager must formally document the proposed change, conduct a thorough impact analysis on scope, schedule, cost, quality, and resources, and then submit this change request to the Change Control Board (CCB) for formal review and approval. This ensures all stakeholders are aware and agree before implementation, maintaining project control.
- ✗
Instruct the team to begin the additional testing immediately to ensure compliance
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to immediately implement additional testing, even for compliance, is incorrect because it bypasses the formal Integrated Change Control process. Implementing changes without proper analysis and approval can lead to unauthorized scope creep, unmanaged cost increases, schedule delays, and potential rework, undermining project governance and control. Regulatory compliance, while critical, must still follow established project procedures to manage impacts effectively.
- ✗
Inform the sponsor that the project will be delayed and request more budget
Why it's wrong here
While communicating with the sponsor is crucial, doing so prematurely with assumptions about delays and budget increases, without first conducting an impact analysis and submitting a formal change request, is inappropriate. The Project Manager must first quantify the impact of the new regulation through a structured change request process before presenting a fully analyzed scenario and potential solutions to the sponsor. This ensures informed decision-making based on data, not speculation.
- ✗
Update the risk register and issue log to reflect the new regulation
Why it's wrong here
Updating the risk register and issue log is an important project management activity, but it is not the initial or primary step for addressing a new regulation that mandates additional work. A new regulation requiring additional testing represents a change to the project's scope or requirements, which necessitates a formal change request and integrated change control process first. Only after the change is approved and planned would its potential residual risks or emerging issues be logged.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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