PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
You are managing a project that is on schedule and under budget. A key stakeholder requests a significant scope change that would improve the product's value but also extend the schedule by 20%. The change has not been through change control. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMP often tests the misconception that a project manager can approve or reject changes based on value or contingency, when the correct action is always to route the request through formal change control.
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
✓
Ask the stakeholder to submit a formal change request for evaluation
When a scope change is requested outside the change control process, the project manager's responsibility is to ensure it is formally documented and evaluated through the integrated change control process. Asking the stakeholder to submit a formal change request allows the change to be assessed for impact on scope, schedule, cost, and risk before any decision is made.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Ask the stakeholder to submit a formal change request for evaluation
Why this is correct
Asking the stakeholder to submit a formal change request is the correct and most professional action, as it adheres strictly to the Integrated Change Control process. This formal submission triggers a structured evaluation of the change's potential impact on the project's scope, schedule, cost, resources, and quality baselines. It ensures that all decisions are informed, documented, and approved by the appropriate authority, thereby maintaining project integrity and governance.
- ✗
Refuse the change to protect the original schedule and budget
Why it's wrong here
Refusing a change outright, even with the intent to protect baselines, is a critical deviation from proper project governance. This action bypasses the essential Integrated Change Control process, preventing any formal assessment of the proposed change's potential value or impact on project objectives. A Project Manager's role is to facilitate evaluation, not to unilaterally dismiss stakeholder requests without due diligence and a structured review.
- ✗
Suggest the stakeholder request the change in a follow-up project
Why it's wrong here
Suggesting a stakeholder defer a change to a future project without first evaluating its current relevance or impact is an inappropriate and premature response. This preemptive rejection neglects the opportunity to assess if the change could deliver significant value or address critical needs within the current project's scope and objectives. Proper procedure dictates that all change requests undergo formal analysis and impact assessment before any decision to accept, reject, or defer is made.
- ✗
Implement the change since it adds value and the project has contingency
Why it's wrong here
Implementing a change without formal approval, despite perceived value or available contingency, fundamentally undermines the project's established governance framework. This unauthorized action risks uncontrolled scope creep, invalidates project baselines, and sets a dangerous precedent that can lead to project instability and stakeholder misalignment. Formal approval through the change control process is mandatory to ensure all impacts are assessed, documented, and officially sanctioned.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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