A project manager is leading a project to develop a new online learning platform. The project has a fixed deadline and budget, but the client frequently requests minor scope adjustments and additional functionalities. While individually small, these requests are accumulating and starting to strain the team's capacity and threaten the project's constraints. What should the project manager do to manage this situation effectively?
- APrioritize the new requests with the client, explaining the impact on the triple constraint, and request trade-offs.
- BReject all new requests from the client to ensure the project stays within its original scope.
- CImplement a formal change control process for all new requests, regardless of size, to evaluate their impact.
- DAdd a contingency buffer to the schedule and budget to absorb future minor scope adjustments.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Prioritize the new requests with the client, explaining the impact on the triple constraint, and request trade-offs.
Rejecting all requests (A) can damage stakeholder relationships. Adding a buffer (C) without formal change management encourages scope creep. Implementing a full formal change control process for every 'minor' request (B) can be overly bureaucratic and slow down an agile or hybrid project. The most effective approach is to proactively engage the client, educate them on the impact of accumulating changes on time, cost, and scope (the triple constraint), and collaboratively prioritize or make trade-offs to manage expectations and maintain project viability.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Outright rejection can harm client relations and ignore potential value.
- C. While change control is important, applying a heavy formal process to 'minor' requests can create unnecessary overhead and slow decision-making, especially if there are many.
- D. Adding a buffer without managing the source of requests encourages unchecked scope creep.
Triple Constraint Management
The practice of balancing the competing demands of project scope, schedule, and cost (and often quality) to achieve project success.
- Changes in one constraint impact others.
- Requires continuous monitoring and adjustment.
- Involves trade-offs and stakeholder negotiation.
Memory trick: When scope creeps, 'BALANCE' with client 'CHOICES'.