PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
Your project is using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the customer is unhappy with the progress and requests a major change in direction. This change will require significant rework and affect the project's critical path. Which THREE actions should you take?
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
✓
Assess the impact of the change on scope, schedule, cost, and quality
When a major change is requested, the PM should document it as a change request, assess the impact on the project constraints, and communicate with stakeholders to manage expectations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Assess the impact of the change on scope, schedule, cost, and quality
Why this is correct
Before any decision regarding a change, a thorough impact analysis is crucial. This involves evaluating how the proposed change will affect the project's scope baseline, schedule baseline, cost baseline, and quality requirements. Understanding these potential ramifications enables the project manager and stakeholders to make an informed decision, ensuring the change aligns with project objectives and constraints.
- ✗
Instruct the team to start implementing the change immediately to satisfy the customer
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to implement a change immediately without proper evaluation and approval bypasses the established change control process. This action can lead to scope creep, budget overruns, schedule delays, and quality issues, as the implications of the change have not been formally assessed or agreed upon by all relevant stakeholders. It undermines project governance and increases project risk.
- ✓
Document the customer's request as a formal change request
Why this is correct
Documenting the customer's request as a formal change request is the essential initial step in the integrated change control process. This formalization ensures the request is clearly defined, recorded, and can be properly tracked, evaluated, and managed according to the project's change management plan. It provides an official record and initiates the structured process for review and decision-making.
- ✗
Reject the change because it was not part of the original scope
Why it's wrong here
Rejecting a change solely because it wasn't in the original scope without proper evaluation is a reactive and potentially detrimental approach. Project environments are dynamic, and valid changes often emerge. A project manager should facilitate the change control process to assess the change's value and impact, rather than dismissing it outright, which could lead to customer dissatisfaction or missed opportunities.
- ✓
Communicate the impact and options to the customer and other stakeholders
Why this is correct
After assessing the change's impact, communicating these findings and potential options to the customer and other relevant stakeholders is paramount. This transparency ensures all parties understand the implications of proceeding with or rejecting the change, facilitates collaborative decision-making, and manages expectations effectively. Open communication fosters trust and secures necessary buy-in for the chosen path forward.
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