PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
Your project is running 15% over budget at the midpoint. The sponsor asks you to reduce costs by cutting the testing phase from three weeks to one week. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMI often tests the misconception that the sponsor's authority allows direct changes without formal process, or that the project manager should immediately reject changes without analysis, when the correct first step is always to submit a change request and analyze the impact.
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 reduce testing and analyze the impact on quality and risks
The PMBOK Guide requires that any change to the project baseline, including scope, schedule, or budget, must follow the formal integrated change control process. The first step is to submit a change request to analyze the impact on quality, risks, and other constraints before making a decision. This ensures that the sponsor and stakeholders understand the trade-offs, such as increased defect risk or rework costs, before approving the reduction.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Agree to reduce testing, as the sponsor has authority over the budget
Why it's wrong here
While the project sponsor holds ultimate authority over the project budget, all significant changes impacting project scope, quality, or risks must adhere to the established change control process. Bypassing this formal governance process, even at the sponsor's request, undermines project integrity, can lead to unmanaged risks, and sets a precedent for informal decision-making that violates project management best practices.
- ✗
Refuse the request, stating that testing is essential for quality
Why it's wrong here
A project manager's role is to facilitate informed decision-making, not to unilaterally refuse requests without proper analysis. Simply stating that testing is essential, without conducting a thorough impact assessment on quality, risks, and other project constraints, is not a collaborative or data-driven approach. The PM should analyze the implications and present objective options to stakeholders.
- ✓
Submit a change request to reduce testing and analyze the impact on quality and risks
Why this is correct
This option correctly follows the formal change control process, which is essential for maintaining project governance and control. By submitting a change request, the project manager ensures that the proposed reduction in testing is thoroughly analyzed for its potential impacts on quality, scope, schedule, and risks. This allows for an informed decision by the Change Control Board (CCB) or relevant stakeholders, maintaining project integrity and transparency.
- ✗
Implement the reduction immediately to save costs, then document it later
Why it's wrong here
Implementing any change, particularly one impacting a critical area like testing, without formal approval is a direct violation of project governance and the established change control process. Such an action bypasses necessary impact analysis, stakeholder review, and risk assessment, potentially introducing unmanaged risks, quality defects, and scope creep. Changes must be approved *before* implementation, not merely documented afterward.
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.
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