PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner demonstrates a completed feature to key stakeholders. One stakeholder is impressed and requests an additional functionality that was not in the original scope. The team estimates it would take two additional sprints. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume a hybrid approach allows direct backlog prioritization (Option A) without recognizing that any scope change affecting the baseline requires a formal change request and CCB approval 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) and assess the impact on schedule, cost, and resources.
In a hybrid project, changes to scope after a sprint review must follow a formal change control process to protect the baseline. Option D is correct because the project manager should first submit a change request to the CCB to assess the impact on schedule, cost, and resources before any work begins, ensuring alignment with the project's governance framework.
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 request to the product backlog and prioritize it in the next sprint planning.
Why it's wrong here
Adding the request directly to the product backlog without formal change control approval bypasses the established project governance framework. This action risks uncontrolled scope creep, which can destabilize project baselines and violate the project management plan, even in a hybrid environment where some changes are managed adaptively. Prioritizing unapproved scope in sprint planning implies an unauthorized commitment of resources.
- ✗
Ask the development team to quickly estimate the effort and begin work if it can be accommodated without delaying the next release.
Why it's wrong here
Asking the development team to estimate and begin work immediately, even if it seems minor or can be accommodated, constitutes an unauthorized change. This approach directly violates the Integrated Change Control process, which mandates formal assessment and approval before any new work commences. Bypassing this critical process, regardless of perceived impact, undermines project control and can lead to unmanaged risks.
- ✗
Thank the stakeholder and explain that the request is out of scope; no changes can be made.
Why it's wrong here
Dismissing a stakeholder's request outright by stating it's out of scope and no changes can be made is not aligned with effective stakeholder management or PMI principles. While the request may indeed be outside the current scope, the proper procedure involves formally evaluating it through the change control process. Refusing to even assess the request misses an opportunity to manage expectations and explore potential value through established governance.
- ✓
Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) and assess the impact on schedule, cost, and resources.
Why this is correct
Submitting a formal change request to the Change Control Board (CCB) and conducting a thorough impact assessment is the correct and most professional course of action. This adheres to the Integrated Change Control process, a critical component of project governance, especially for significant scope changes in a hybrid project. The assessment informs the CCB's decision, ensuring any approved changes are properly planned, resourced, and integrated without jeopardizing project baselines.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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