PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
Your project is using a hybrid approach with both predictive and agile elements. Mid-project, a key stakeholder requests a significant scope change that would affect the 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 on the critical path, schedule, cost, and quality.
PMI requires following the change control process: formally submit a change request, evaluate the impact on the critical path and project constraints, and communicate the impact to stakeholders before approval.
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 change to the product backlog to be addressed in a future iteration.
Why it's wrong here
In a hybrid project, adding a significant scope change that affects the critical path directly to the product backlog is inappropriate. The product backlog is typically reserved for smaller, emergent requirements or refinements within an established scope baseline. Major changes require formal evaluation against the project's predictive baseline, making simple backlog prioritization insufficient and potentially disruptive without proper analysis and approval.
- ✓
Assess the impact on the critical path, schedule, cost, and quality.
Why this is correct
Before any decision or action regarding a significant change, a thorough impact analysis is paramount. This involves evaluating how the proposed change will affect all project constraints, including the critical path, overall schedule, budget, resource allocation, and quality standards, to provide the Change Control Board (CCB) with comprehensive data for an informed decision.
- ✗
Implement the change immediately since the stakeholder is key to project success.
Why it's wrong here
Unilateral and immediate implementation of a significant change, even one requested by a key stakeholder, bypasses established change control processes. This action can lead to uncontrolled scope creep, budget overruns, schedule delays, and quality degradation, undermining project governance and potentially jeopardizing overall project success by circumventing necessary impact analysis and formal approval.
- ✓
Inform the stakeholder of the potential impact on the project constraints.
Why this is correct
After assessing the potential impacts of a significant change, it is crucial to communicate these findings transparently to the requesting stakeholder. This ensures they understand the trade-offs involved, such as potential delays, cost increases, or scope adjustments, fostering realistic expectations and enabling collaborative decision-making regarding the change's feasibility and desirability.
- ✓
Submit a change request to the change control board.
Why this is correct
Following impact analysis, a formal change request must be submitted to the Change Control Board (CCB). This structured submission documents the proposed change, its assessed impacts, and any recommended actions, providing the CCB with the necessary information to formally review, evaluate, and approve, defer, or reject the change in accordance with the project's change management plan.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
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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