PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the customer expresses dissatisfaction with a recently delivered feature and requests a significant redesign. This change will impact the critical path and increase costs. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception is that customer satisfaction justifies immediate action, but the PMP exam emphasizes adherence to formal change control processes even in agile or hybrid environments.
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) for evaluation and approval
In a hybrid project, changes impacting the critical path and costs must follow a formal change control process. Submitting a change request to the CCB ensures the redesign is evaluated for feasibility, impact on schedule, budget, and quality before approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control and prevents unauthorized scope creep.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Approve the redesign to satisfy the customer and update the project schedule accordingly
Why it's wrong here
A project manager does not typically have unilateral authority to approve significant scope changes that impact project baselines. Approving the redesign without a formal change control process bypasses the established governance framework, leading to undocumented scope creep and potential budget overruns. Such an action undermines project control and can compromise the project's ability to meet its objectives within approved constraints. This approach prioritizes immediate customer satisfaction over sound project management principles.
- ✗
Instruct the team to implement the redesign immediately to maintain customer satisfaction
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to implement an unapproved redesign immediately is a direct violation of the project's change management plan and established governance. This action bypasses all formal evaluation, impact analysis, and approval steps, leading to uncontrolled scope changes and potential rework or quality issues. Such a decision introduces significant risks to the project's schedule, budget, and resource allocation, making it difficult to track progress against baselines. It demonstrates a lack of adherence to professional project management standards.
- ✓
Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation and approval
Why this is correct
Submitting a formal change request to the Change Control Board (CCB) is the correct and most professional course of action for any proposed scope alteration. This process ensures that the redesign is properly documented, its impact on project baselines (scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, risks) is thoroughly analyzed, and all relevant stakeholders can provide input. The CCB then makes an informed decision, ensuring that approved changes align with project objectives and organizational strategy, maintaining project control and integrity.
- ✗
Reject the request because it was not part of the original scope agreement
Why it's wrong here
Immediately rejecting a customer's redesign request solely because it's outside the original scope is a rigid and non-proactive approach that can harm stakeholder relationships. While the request may indeed be a scope change, the proper procedure is to evaluate its feasibility and impact through the change control process, rather than outright dismissal. A project manager should facilitate the evaluation of all legitimate requests, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to delivering value, even if it means adjusting baselines after formal approval.
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.
About these practice questions
One of 800 original PMP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
8 more ways this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
medium- A.Add the request to the product backlog and prioritize it in the next sprint planning.
- B.Ask the development team to quickly estimate the effort and begin work if it can be accommodated without delaying the next release.
- C.Thank the stakeholder and explain that the request is out of scope; no changes can be made.
- ✓ D.Submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) and assess the impact on schedule, cost, and resources.
Why D: 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.
Variation 2. You are managing a project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint, the development team discovers a critical security vulnerability that was not identified during risk planning. The fix will require significant rework and will cause the sprint goal to be missed. What should the project manager do FIRST?
hard- ✓ A.Perform an impact analysis and submit a change request to address the vulnerability
- B.Instruct the team to fix the vulnerability immediately without formal change control
- C.Ask the team to work overtime to fix the vulnerability while still achieving the sprint goal
- D.Allow the team to continue with the sprint and address the vulnerability in a future sprint
Why A: The project manager should first assess the impact of the security vulnerability on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request to formally address the issue. Option B is incorrect because bypassing change control violates project governance, especially in a hybrid approach where change management processes are defined. Option C is incorrect because requiring overtime to achieve the sprint goal ignores the rework impact and could lead to burnout and quality issues. Option D is incorrect because delaying the fix leaves the vulnerability unaddressed, which is unacceptable for a critical security issue.
Variation 3. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a new feature that was not in the backlog. The team believes it can be completed within the current sprint without impacting the sprint goal. What should you do FIRST?
medium- ✓ A.Submit a change request to the change control board to evaluate the impact on the project.
- B.Add the feature to the product backlog for prioritization in a future sprint.
- C.Ask the team to implement the feature immediately since it won't affect the sprint goal.
- D.Allow the product owner to approve the change since it is within the sprint.
Why A: In a hybrid project, scope changes, even if seemingly minor and within the current sprint, must be formally evaluated to understand their full impact on project objectives, timeline, and budget. The first action should be to submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) so that the potential change is analyzed properly. Option B is not the best first step because adding to the backlog without assessing impact could lead to scope creep or unintended consequences. Option C bypasses the formal process entirely, risking project misalignment. Option D is incorrect because the product owner cannot unilaterally approve scope changes without CCB oversight, especially in a hybrid framework where change control is still required.
Variation 4. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a change that would add a new feature to the current release. The team estimates it will take two additional sprints. What should you do first?
medium- A.Ask the team to start working on the new feature immediately to meet the stakeholder's needs
- ✓ B.Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process to assess the impact on scope, schedule, cost, and quality
- C.Explain that no changes can be made after the sprint review to maintain the schedule
- D.Add the feature to the backlog and prioritize it for the next release without further analysis
Why B: Any change that impacts scope, schedule, or cost must first go through Integrated Change Control (ICC) to assess its impact before approval. This aligns with PMI's change management best practices. Option A bypasses formal control, Option C is too rigid for a hybrid approach, and Option D delays analysis but does not initiate proper governance.
Variation 5. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During the sprint review, the product owner is satisfied with the deliverables, but one key stakeholder requests a significant change that would add a new feature. The team has already started planning the next sprint. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Refuse the change because the scope was already agreed upon during sprint planning.
- B.Ask the team to include the new feature in the next sprint since it's a high priority for the stakeholder.
- C.Advise the stakeholder to wait until the project is complete and then submit an enhancement request.
- ✓ D.Submit a change request to the change control board for evaluation and approval.
Why D: In a hybrid project, changes are managed through a formal change control process. The stakeholder's request for a new feature is a significant change that must be evaluated for impact on scope, schedule, and budget before any action is taken. Submitting a change request to the change control board (CCB) ensures proper governance and prevents unauthorized scope creep, which is critical when the team has already begun planning the next sprint.
Variation 6. You are the project manager for a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a significant change to a feature that has already been accepted in a previous sprint. The change would require rework and impact the critical path. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Add the change to the product backlog for a future sprint without formal approval
- ✓ B.Submit a change request and evaluate the impact on the project constraints
- C.Instruct the team to implement the change immediately to maintain stakeholder satisfaction
- D.Reject the change because the feature was already accepted
Why B: In a hybrid project, changes to accepted deliverables must follow a formal change control process. Submitting a change request (Option B) ensures the impact on the critical path, schedule, and budget is evaluated before any rework begins, aligning with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on integrated change control.
Variation 7. You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. In the middle of a sprint, you discover that a team member has been working on a feature that was de-scoped in the last sprint review. The team member claims the product owner informally agreed to add it back. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Ask the product owner to formally document the agreement and add it to the backlog
- ✓ B.Stop work on the feature and initiate a change request through the change control process
- C.Allow the team member to continue since the product owner agreed
- D.Escalate to the project sponsor for a decision
Why B: In a hybrid project, scope changes must follow a formal change control process to maintain baseline integrity. The team member's informal agreement with the product owner bypasses this, risking scope creep and unapproved work. Stopping work and initiating a change request ensures proper evaluation of impact on schedule, budget, and sprint goals before proceeding.
Variation 8. You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. Midway through, the customer requests a new feature that was not in the original scope. The team estimates it will add two weeks to the schedule. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Refuse the request, as the scope was already finalized
- B.Ask the team to start working on the feature to keep the customer happy
- C.Add the feature to the product backlog and prioritize it for the next release
- ✓ D.Submit a change request and conduct an impact analysis
Why D: In a hybrid project, changes to scope must follow a formal change control process. Option D is correct because submitting a change request and conducting an impact analysis ensures the feature's effect on cost, schedule, and quality is evaluated before any action is taken, aligning with both predictive and agile governance.
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.