Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlineProcessMedium
A project manager is leading a project to develop a new cloud-based data analytics platform. During the execution phase, the development team identifies a new, highly efficient open-source library that could significantly improve the platform's performance and reduce future maintenance costs, but its integration would require a minor adjustment to the current architecture and a slight increase in initial development time. What should the project manager do?
- ADiscuss the potential benefits with the project sponsor and ask for a direct decision.
- BInitiate a change request to formally assess the impact and gain approval.
- CReject the idea to avoid scope creep and maintain the baseline schedule.
- DInstruct the team to integrate the library immediately to realize the benefits.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Initiate a change request to formally assess the impact and gain approval.
Any change to the project that impacts scope, schedule, or cost, even if beneficial, must go through the formal change control process. Initiating a change request ensures proper assessment of the impact, consideration by relevant stakeholders, and formal approval before implementation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While discussing with the sponsor is part of the process, the formal mechanism for such a change is a change request, which ensures all impacts are considered, not just a direct decision based on a preliminary discussion.
- C. Rejecting the idea outright without assessment might cause the project to miss out on significant benefits.
- D. Integrating the library immediately without formal approval bypasses change control and can lead to undocumented changes, scope creep, or unauthorized budget/schedule deviations.
Integrated Change Control
The process of reviewing all change requests, approving changes, and managing changes to deliverables, organizational process assets, project documents, and the project management plan.
- Ensures all changes are thoroughly assessed for impact.
- Prevents uncontrolled changes (scope creep).
- Requires formal approval by relevant stakeholders or a Change Control Board (CCB).
Memory trick: Don't just change, make it official, then proceed with the mission.