Manage Changes Flashcards
When changing to an agile environment the change process can be treated as a separate agile project using what tool to track the status of change.
A. Spikes
B. Backlog
C. Kanban
D. PMIS
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Organizational change management in the agile environment is discussed on p 84 in the Agile Practice Guide
The Agile Manifesto contains four paired values. Which of the following options would correctly finish the agile value: Responding to change over _______________________?
A. processes and tools
B. comprehensive documentation
C. following a plan
D. contract negotiation
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Option C is correct. Agile paired value number 4 states it is more important to respond to change than to follow a strict plan. (Responding to change over following a plan)
You are managing a complex network infrastructure upgrade and one of the customer’s representatives informs you that he wants to change a certain aspect of the project. What should you do first?
A. Understand the impact of the change
B. Update all project documents that are affected by the change
C. Issue a change request
D. Communicate the change to any stakeholders impacted
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
There are formal procedures you must follow to deal with change requests. Based on the options provided, the first thing you should do is look at the impact of the change. The next thing would be to issue the change request. Then, if the change was approved, you would update the necessary project documents and baselines. Then finally, you would inform the impacted stakeholders about the change.
Which of the following provides the baseline for controlling changes?
A. Performance reports
B. Project Management Plan
C. Change management plan
D. Scope baseline
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The change control procedures should be spelled out in the project management plan, and will often vary from project to project. It is important to spell out these procedures in detail on the front end to ensure that all changes are requested, approved and managed in a uniform fashion.
In many companies, integrated change control is viewed as one of the key methods for ensuring that responses to and causes of variances to baselines are managed in a way that best suits the organization and the project. Since change is a natural part of every project, when it comes to changes, attention is best spent on:
A. Making helpful changes
B. Tracking and recording changes
C. Informing the sponsor of changes
D. Preventing unnecessary changes
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Project managers should be proactive. The only proactive answer here is preventing unnecessary changes.
The project sponsor reports that an element of a product could lead to moderate health issues in customers. Therefore, the sponsor asks to modify production materials. Which action should the project manager take?
A. Refer to the Perform Integrated Change Control process to examine the issue further.
B. Promptly implement the change and submit a change request for formal documentation.
C. Halt current production and initiate the Perform Integrated Change Control process.
D. Do not fulfill the request because it will lead to scope creep.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Always investigate an issue first before taking action. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.6 (Integrated Change Control)/112
You are the project manager for a large defense contractor. You are currently attending a change control meeting to get several scope changes approved. What items should you be relying upon as you perform this process?
A. Project management plan, work performance information, requirements documentation, requirements traceability matrix, verified deliverables
B. Project management plan, scope baseline, enterprises environmental factors, organizational process assets, change requests
C. WBS, WBS dictionary, scope baseline
D. Project management plan, work performance reports, enterprises environmental factors, organizational process assets, change requests
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The question states that you are attending a change control meeting. Therefore you must be in the Perform Integrated Change Control process, and the inputs to this process are project management plan, work performance reports, enterprises environmental factors, organizational process assets and change requests.
While your stakeholders are generally pleased with the way your project is going, they have indicated to you that they would like more consistent, timely information such as earned value graphs, trend lines, and forecasting. The next thing you should do is gather information in order to create:
A. Work performance information
B. Work performance reports
C. Change requests
D. Project Management Information
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Work performance data are the raw measurements used to compile Work performance information. While this WPI offers greater context than raw data, it is often difficult to decipher. The stakeholders desire more consistent and timely Work performance reports. However, we must update our Communications Management Plan with updated Stakeholder communication requirements to ensure that we satisfy their updated informational needs. While there are project management information systems (PMIS), there is no Project Management Information in the lexicon.
The customer has requested a contract modification for an additional test, but no new funds have been included. Which statement is correct regarding the next steps?
A. The modification should be accepted, since the Management Reserve can cover the cost
B. The modification should be accepted and covered by the Contingency Reserve
C. The cumulative CPI is above 1.0 so modification should be accepted
D. The modification should be rejected since no funding was provided and no change request was approved
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
When working on a contract, requested changes must be funded and approved by the change control board. Since the modification did not include additional funds and was not approved, it should not be accepted. Management Reserves are for unknown risks and Contingency Reserves are for known risks. The question says nothing about CPI or earned value, so choice C is obviously wrong.
You are managing a database design project and just realized that there is a major flaw in your design. Your team determines that fixing the design flaw will result in two additional weeks of work, along with a 10% increase in costs, but has no significant impacts on other project constraints. Not fixing the flaw, however, would result in a major security vulnerability that is unacceptable to the customer. What should you do next?
A. Fix the flaw immediately
B. Inform the customer of the design flaw
C. Create a change request
D. Determine the impact of the change
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
In this question, you have simply identified a design flaw. Even though the team may come up with the impacts to fixing the design flaw, the first step is to create a change request. You should not begin fixing the problem, as suggested in choice A, until you get approval. Choice B is also inappropriate, because it is not the next step. You should get the change approved first, and then inform the customer of the new plan. The steps in the change process are 1) prevent change if possible; 2) identify the change (document it with a change request) 3) determine the impact, 4) Issue the change request to the change control board for review; 5) perform integrated change control (get CCB to approve); If change is approved: 6) update the project documents, 7) notify stakeholders of the change and get their buy-in, and 8) manage the project per the new plan.
After you make approved changes to the original scope, you should do which of the following?
A. Amend the Scope Statement
B. Do a completely new WBS
C. Save the old versions
D. Issue change requests
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
You should always save older versions of project documents and make sure that each version undergoes version control. The configuration management plan would define how you would handle version control on the project. Choice B is wrong, you do not have to do a completely new WBS unless the approved change actually changes the entire project. Choice D is also wrong – since the change request was already approved, you wouldn’t need to issue a change request.
Your customer has recently requested additions to the project scope, and the changes have been approved. You will need to analyze/ re-visit all of the following except for which one?
A. Project Charter
B. Risk register
C. Cost Performance Baseline
D. Project Schedule
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
A change to the project scope will likely trigger changes to the budget, schedule and risk register (among other things). The project charter would not necessarily need re-visited, however, as its purpose is primarily to authorize the commencement of the project (and it does not address detailed scope considerations).
You are in the executing phase of a large software implementation and one of your lead analysts has noticed that the product could be vastly improved by making a small change to a couple of the configuration items. The analyst thinks that this would have a minimal impact to the timeline but would improve the client’s experience of this product and would also improve configuration efficiency for the remainder of the project. She is about to tell her junior analyst to make the change but has approached you to confirm that this is ok. What should you do in this situation?
A. Since it is a simple change that would result in greater client satisfaction and efficiencies for your project, you should allow her to make the change.
B. You should first perform a detailed impact analysis and then submit a Change Order to the Change Control Board for authorization to make the change.
C. This is beyond the scope of the project and would be considered Gold Plating. This change should not be made.
D. This is beyond the scope of the project and would be considered Scope Creep. This change should not be made.
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Any change which adds features not found in the requirements should have an impact analysis performed first, for even if the change is small it could still have an impact on other processes. Since the change involves a deviation from the approved scope, the change control board must review it and consider the impact to all constraints. C and D are incorrect since you can make the change if the Change Control Board approves it.
Your change control board (CCB) has just approved a change request. What is the next thing you should do?
A. Analyze the impact of the change
B. Inform stakeholders of the change approval
C. Update the project plan to reflect the change
D. Manage the project based on the approved change
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The first thing you should do after a change request is approved is update the project documents. Once the documents are updated, then you can inform the stakeholders. After that you can go back to work and manage the project based on the approved change. Choice A is clearly wrong, because you always analyze the impact of a change prior to submitting a change request (that is likely the first question you will be asked by the CCB - what’s the impact to your project?).
You are the project manager for a large biotech firm. You are currently managing a long-term project that has been very difficult. Stakeholders have changed, technology has improved and team members have been replaced. You receive change requests almost daily. Which of the following is not true about change requests?
A. Change requests can be verbally initiated.
B. Change control systems may have a provision for automatic approval of a defined category of changes.
C. All change requests result in updates to project baselines.
D. All change requests should go to your Change Control Board
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Only approved change requests could result in an update of project baselines, and even then, not every approved change will require such a change.
You are the project manager working with an agile team to develop a new security system for a prison client. Key stakeholders interact with the team on a daily basis–most notably the warden and guard chief–and occasionally come up with new ideas of what they’d like to include in the system. Which of the following steps would not typically occur for this type of project?
A. The stakeholder requesting the change identifies and documents it.
B. An analysis of the impact of the change is performed.
C. The change request and impact analysis are forwarded to the change control board for approval.
D. The team decides whether or not to accept the change.
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Answers A and B would be done no matter what life cycle or methodology is utilized. For agile projects, the team decides whether or not to accept the change, not a change control board. For changes that are accepted, the team will either agree that they can include it in the current sprint/iteration, else it will be added to the Product Backlog for addition inclusion in a future sprint.
A key stakeholder on your agile project has requested a minor correction to the specifications for the new check processing system being developed for a banking customer. The team has considered the impact of the change and believes it can accommodate it in the current sprint, which has just started, so it approves the change. Which of the following would not be included in any approved changes?
A. Defect
B. Preventive action
C. Corrective action
D. Update
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Simply identifying that a defect exists doesn’t necessarily require a change request. By definition, a defect is a deliverable that does not pass the quality requirements, so it is of low quality. Occasionally, an end user or customer might accept a defect. A defect repair modifies a defect that has a quality issue, which is included with approved changes.
Heather is the project manager for a new internal-only system for reporting interdepartmental budgets and software adoption. During a weekly status call on the progress of development and testing, the project sponsor discusses the approved changes in the priorities of the release, switching Phase 1 deliverables for Phase 2 deliverables. Heather objects on the call, proposing to take this change in priorities to the change control board, but the project sponsor overrides the request and demands adoption of the new priorities on the call. What is the next step for Heather?
A. Demand this change go through change control
B. Escalate to senior management after the status meeting
C. Request a change to the project charter
D. Write up the new priorities for the stakeholders
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
This is a situation where the sponsor has obviously had a change request approved without the project manager knowing about it. The best answer is D, write up the new priorities for the stakeholders. Since the change has been through change control and been approved, the next step then is to update all documentation. A is incorrect because the project sponsor has received approval. B is incorrect because your path to senior management should be through your sponsor. C is incorrect because the change is not to the project charter, but to the order the deliverables will be produced.
Mark, one of your agile team members, brings a problem to your attention. The only viable solution would be to drastically change the scope of the project. As the PM you inform Mark that this will require a change request. Mark looks at you and says “we are agile, we don’t use change request. I have an agile mindset no documentation needed bro” in a condescending tone. What do you do?
A. Agree with mark and make the necessary changes
B. Fill out the issue log and manage the change to the project
C. Discuss the change with the team during the next standup meeting after you have implemented it
D. Fill out the appropriate change control form then mentor Mark on how agile methodologies can still conform to project controls like change management.
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Project controls on Scope, Schedule, Cost, and Change can still occur in the agile environment
Which of the following is easy to accept early in the project and difficult to accept late in the project?
A. Risk
B. Change
C. Errors
D. Team members
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Change is easily accepted in the beginning of a project. As the project moves toward completion, it is harder to incorporate changes as the project work is being completed, and the cost of those changes increases dramatically.
You are a project manager for a start-up technology company. You are working with an overseas client to install a new cloud technology-based enterprise system. Your project team was trying its best but was unable to meet the specifications of the product. You decide to analyze the variance and decide a proper course of action. Which process was performed and what is the likely outcome of your analysis?
A. Monitor and Control Project Work which may result in a change request.
B. Control Scope which will usually result in a scope baseline modification.
C. Control Quality which may result in an update to the issue log.
D. Perform Integrated Change Control which may result in a change request.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Maintaining accurate and timely information regarding the product(s) of the project and associated documentation through project completion is a function of the Monitor and Control Project Work process. Variance analysis is performed in the Monitoring and Controlling Project Work process and reviews the difference between planned and actual performance. This will allow for the appropriate corrective action(s) to be performed. You may have chosen answer choice B, but this process does not usually result in a change to the scope baseline. Answer choice C has already been performed to discover the project was unable to meet the specifications. While answer choice D may be true, it does not address what is being performed in the question.
You are managing a project when the customer requests a change during user acceptance testing. You must perform which of the following steps first?
A. Confirm approval of the change from the sponsor
B. Confirm approval of the change from the project team
C. Confirm approval of the change from the customer
D. Conduct a risk assessment for each proposed change
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Conduct a risk assessment for the proposed change. The change control board will either approve or reject the changes, not the parties noted in Answers A-C.
James is the project manager for the construction of a new terminal at an airport. He and his team are executing the work as planned. Two equally important stakeholders are requesting a change to the project. Both feel their request is the priority at this stage of the project. What is the best thing to do in this situation?
A. Prioritize the change yourself without involving the project team.
B. Select a team member who has a good relationship with the stakeholders to determine the priority.
C. Reject both changes since the project work is already being executed.
D. Have a joint meeting with the project team and stakeholders to determine which request is a priority.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
It is the responsibility of the project manager to prioritize changes, and this should not be delegated, which makes choice A the best response. Answer choice C is wrong because changes can not be dismissed because you are in the process of doing the work.
You are managing a project to develop a new space craft. The project has dragged on for several years, with hundreds of changes and updates being requested/implemented. You have dealt with multiple stakeholders and your sponsor changed midway through the project. You have spent most of your time lately ensuring that changes to the project are properly authorized, documented, communicated and implemented. What is the process in which you are currently engaged?
A. Identify Risk
B. Direct and Manage Project Work
C. Monitor and Control Project Work
D. Perform Integrated Change Control
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The question is describing the Perform Integrated Change Control process. A critical part of project management, it ensures that each change is properly approved, documented, communicated to those affected, etc. A failure in this process will often result in scope creep, cost overruns, delays, miscommunications, quality defects, and other problems.
You are a project manager with a start up company. Changes come often and you need to control the scope and meet customer needs. Perform integrated change control is primarily concerned with which of the following?
A. Reviewing and approving change requests
B. The creation of change requests
C. Integrating deliverables from different functional specialties on the project
D. Establishing a change control board that oversees the overall changes on the project
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Perform Integrated Change Control is the process of reviewing all change requests, approving changes and managing changes to the deliverables, organizational process assets, project documents and the project management plan. The creation of change requests is done in other processes and becomes an input to the Perform Integrated Change Control process.
Configuration management is a process for applying technical and administrative direction and oversight of the project implementation as it pertains to the deliverables. Which activity is not included in configuration management?
A. Controlling changes to the project deliverables
B. Scope validation
C. Automatic change request approvals
D. Identification of the functional and physical attributes of the project deliverables
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Automatic change request approvals should not be used, though oftentimes the project manager will be allowed to approve certain categories of changes herself.
Debra is the project manager for a new line of dog leashes. The new product is meant to be a single bundled item with a dog collar and leash packaged together in the same color and style. However, the first run of product created thousands of units where the color of the leash and the color of the collars did not match. The marketing members of the project team has proposed selling the two items separately. What is the next step?
A. Rewrite the requirements to match a new marketing proposal
B. Adjust the development process to create different colors for the collars and leashes
C. Create a change request and identify the impacts of the new products on the original product specifications
D. Do a fishbone analysis of the reason the process created mismatched colors
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Before taking advantage of the new marketing proposal, which will save waste, the project manager must submit the proposal to the Change Control Board for approval. Understanding the impact of the change is part of the change control process. Note answer D (do an analysis of the color problems) should have been done before this before marketing even proposed a work-around incorrectly created material.
Change requests are an output of Manage Team. In this context, the particular changes in question would focus on which of the following?
A. Project management plan
B. Schedule
C. Staffing
D. WBS
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Requested staffing changes are an output of managing the team. This may include on-boarding, replacing, transferring, or releasing team members.
The construction project for a new building is running behind schedule and over budget. When looking at project performance to date, you realize one of the main reasons for schedule delays is the inexperienced foreman. You recommended a change to the change control board to involve a more experienced foreman to mentor the inexperienced one. How would you describe this situation?
A. You identified a situation where a preventive action was needed and subsequently approved by the change control board
B. You identified a situation where a corrective action was needed and subsequently raised a change request
C. You submitted a schedule baseline change request and it was subsequently approved by the change control board
D. You implemented a change and need to let all stakeholders know about this
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
This is an example of a corrective action change request - correcting a problem to get back in line with the baseline. Preventive action is proactive in nature - correcting a potential problem to make sure you stay aligned with the baseline. There is nothing in this to suggest you asked for a schedule baseline change.
Which of the following agile change-friendly characteristics is not true?
A. Executive management’s unwillingness to change
B. Focus on short-term budgeting and metrics over long-term goals
C. Centralization or decentralization of project, program, and portfolio management functions
D. Talent management maturity and capabilities
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Option A is correct. The willingness of Executive management to change is an essential agile change-friendly characteristic. Answers B, C, and D are all valid agile change-friendly characteristics. Remember, agile was, in part, designed to help organizations react to the increasingly rapid rate of change. In fact, responding to change over following a plan is one of the four agile values. See page 72 of the Agile Practice Guide for more details.
You are the project manager in a product manufacturing organization. Your project has progressed with minimal problems and you are currently on schedule and slightly below budget. As the project moves toward completion, different material composition is considered for the deliverable. This is an example of which of the following?
A. Change request
B. Alternatives generation
C. Quality assurance
D. Define Scope
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Identifying alternatives as part of the Data Analysis technique is used to generate different approaches to execute and perform the work of the project.
You have just received word that a particular change request was approved by your project sponsor, even though you did not believe the change to be a good idea. What should you do next?
A. Evaluate the impact of the change
B. Update all project documents that are affected by the change
C. Try to convince the sponsor that change will not be helpful to the project
D. Perform Integrated Change Control
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Since the change has been approved, your job is to implement it properly, which starts with updating the pertinent documents. You will then communicate the change to the persons affected, and ensure that the project is managed in accordance with the change going forward.
You are the PM on a multi-million dollar project. Your scope and cost baseline were just accepted by the sponsor and the resources have been applied by the PMO. As you near the completion of planning, a team member informs you of a change to the schedule and there is minimal impact to the other baselines. What should you do next?
A. Modify the other baselines to show the updates to scope and/or cost
B. Prevent the root cause of the change
C. Implement the approved change request
D. Call a meeting with the CCB and demand your changes be approved
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The first step in the change control process is to prevent the root cause. Once a baseline has been approved it requires a change request to make any changes to it. Prior to being approved a PM can make any changes based on it still being in the developmental stages.
Your project is proceeding ahead of schedule when management elects to incorporate additional quality testing into the project to improve the quality and acceptability of the project deliverable. As a result, you have updated the quality management plan to reflect these additions, and have also updated the schedule and budget to account for them. The resource plan was also updated to reflect the roles and responsibilities associated with the new testing. Finally, you called a team meeting to go over all of these changes and ensure everyone was apprised of the various updates to the project management plan. This is an example of which of the following?
A. Scope creep
B. Stakeholder Engagement
C. Quality assurance (QA)
D. Change Control
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Additional quality testing will require additional time and resources for the project, and will affect the roles and responsibilities. Your updating these important documents, along with communicating the changes to the team, falls under integrated change control.
Your vendor has informed you that the recent storm will impact the delivery of materials for a critical activity on your project. The project team met to determine the impact to the overall project. It is determined that staffing will not be affected, but that changes will need to be made in the areas of risk and cost management, and appropriate change requests have been issued. It is too soon to tell if quality baselines will be affected by this schedule change. What is the project team involved in here?
A. Configuration management
B. Work authorization analysis
C. Status review meeting
D. Perform integrated change control
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Perform integrated change control is the process of reviewing all changes requests, approving changes, and managing changes to the deliverables, organizational process assets, project documents, and project management plan.
A project is started based on the approved scope. As the project design is being implemented, a team member says that the product will not meet the requirements in certain situations. Correcting the issue will not only cause an increase in scope and costs, but the project will also miss the deadline. The project sponsors do not have additional funding to support the project. Considering this information, what should the project manager do?
A. Conduct a risk analysis and update the project sponsor.
B. Enact the Perform Integrated Change Control process.
C. Resolve the issue to satisfy the customer.
D. Contact the customer and negotiate for risk acceptance.
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Perform Integrated Change Control is the process of reviewing all change requests; approving changes and managing changes to deliverables, project documents, and the project management plan; and communicating the decisions. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.6/113
A project manager recently joined a new project. This project has the following characteristics: -Deadlines that are tight -Global team that works virtually -Fixed budget The project manager is in the planning stage, and wants to avoid scope creep and keep the team focused on delivering a product that meets requirements. What should the project manager do to achieve this goal?
A. Ensure that any changes to scope go through the formal approval process.
B. Ensure that daily stand-ups occur, with all development teams.
C. Ensure that the development team leads generate detailed requirements.
D. Ensure that stakeholders do not directly interact with the development team leads.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Following the formal approval process is the best way to control unnecessary project changes. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017)/5.2/616
You are dealing with multiple requests for changes on a project, some of which are very minor and some more impactful. You want to be sure that the appropriate person/body is approving each of the various change requests, so you should consult which of the following?
A. Change Control System
B. Configuration management plan
C. Change management plan
D. Stakeholder Register
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The change control system is a collection of formal documented procedures that define how project deliverables and documentation will be controlled, changed and approved. It should be set forth in the Project Management Plan, along with other change management plans.
You are meeting with the quality assurance (QA) manager to discuss the results of the quality audit of your project. The QA manager informs you that your team has been following quality procedures that are not particularly helpful, and as a result might be increasing the likelihood for defects. The QA manager recommends revisions to the quality procedures. You feel that the team is following the quality policies that were originally set forth, and they are doing a good job. How should you handle this situation?
A. You should make a note in your lessons learned document
B. Go to the functional managers of your team members and ask them to ensure the team members follow the new procedures suggested
C. You should analyze the suggested procedures, then submit a change request
D. Do nothing because your team is already doing a good job
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The correct course of action when you identify a possible change is to analyze the impact of the change and then present a change request to the change control board. Choice B might very well be the end result of this, but it’s important to take your change request to the change control board for approval. Choice D is obviously not a good way to handle this (even though it might be your first instinct).
You are using an iterative life cycle for your project according to your project management plan. The deliverable has been approved by the customer, but there has been a change request submitted by the customer. The request has been approved and all documents updated. As a project manager, how should you proceed?
A. Utilize expert judgment and submit a work performance report
B. Implement the approved change via Direct and Manage Project Work
C. Document the change on the change log
D. Implement the approved change then monitor and control for version control
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
During execution we implement approved change requests via the process of Direct and Manage Project Work, but we use Control Quality to verify the change was implemented as approved. Of the answers provided, this is the best answer.
A change has been approved for your project scope. This change will require an additional $135,000 in costs and will take six additional weeks of project time. What should you do next?
A. Request the change at the next change control board meeting
B. Inform the stakeholders of the change
C. Order a new charter for the added work
D. Reflect the approved change in the time, cost, and scope baselines, along with other documents that are impacted
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The change has already been approved. Therefore, the next thing to do is update the schedule, cost, and scope baselines to reflect this change. You won’t inform the stakeholders until after the change has been updated in the plan documents.
To determine which product to create, a project feasibility study was conducted. However, a change request was recently approved to develop another product that contradicts the original requirements. Data specialists conducted an analysis before the change request was approved. What is an appropriate action for the project manager to take?
A. Perform the change request.
B. Do not accept the change request.
C. Review a detailed report of the data analysis.
D. Review a feasibility study of the new product.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
After a change request has been approved, it should be executed. If the new requirements did not contradict the original ones, a change request would likely not be needed in the first place. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.6/113
Which is the best way to handle changes in Agile projects?
A. All requested changes must be approved by the change control board.
B. No changes are allowed since the delivery timeframes are too short.
C. Changing requirements are welcome, even late in development.
D. Only changes to the schedule and cost baselines are permitted; the scope baseline cannot be changed.
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
This is the second of the Twelve Principles behind the Agile Manifesto. Page 9, Agile Practice Guide
You are the project manager for the Green Thumb Landscaping Company working on a firm fixed-priced contract for a customer who is also a personal friend. The installation of the lawn sod has completed slightly ahead of schedule. The customer notices that you have some leftover grass that will have to be discarded after the project completes, and asks if you can install it in a location that is not part of the original project. What is the most appropriate response to this?
A. You agree to install the sod since it would be discarded anyway, you are ahead of schedule, and it only takes about an hour to complete.
B. You politely decline the request since he is a friend and it could be construed as a conflict of interest.
C. You agree to install the sod after submitting a change request and receiving approval.
D. You develop a charter for a new project to install the grass as requested.
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The nature of the request or your relationship with the customer is not a reason to circumvent the change control process. Any change request should be considered using integrated change control.
You are a project manager and your team is creating a customer service e-mail support system. Two of the project’s customers have just asked for changes that each says should be the number one priority. Your change control procedures allow you as the PM to authorize the types of changes suggested without consulting the Change Control Board. What would be the best thing to do?
A. Have the project team meet with the customers to decide which would be the easiest and prioritize that one first
B. Prioritize the changes without involving the team
C. Ask the sponsor to decide which changes take precedence
D. Deny both changes since allowing them would cause scope creep to occur
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Prioritizing the changes is the job of the project manager. Choice A is wrong because you do not want to distract the team at this point - they should be doing the work. Choice C is wrong because it is the project manager’s responsibility to help prioritize competing demands. Choice D is incorrect because scope creep means the changes were uncontrolled. Change does not automatically cause scope creep, provided it is conducted as per the change management plan.
A product owner repeatedly complains, saying that a function developed by the development team does not seem to align with the original design. What will help to solve this issue?
A. Ask the product owner to sit in on the next iteration review meeting to learn more about the development status for the product.
B. Ask the quality assurance team to identify any mismatches in functionality compared to the initial design.
C. Ask the development team to rewrite the function so that it matches with the project scope.
D. Schedule time during the next retrospective session to discuss all corrective actions and ask the project owner to participate in the session.
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Retrospective can discuss the product release status, whether the team reaches any other milestone. It can be used by project manage to survey all necessary parties to reach consensus and build understanding. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017), 8 Project Quality Management / 8.3.2.6 Meetings, p305| The Agile Practice Guide (2017), 5. Implementing Agile: Delivering In An Agile Environment / 5.2.1 Retrospectives, pp50-51
Your organization has moved to a hybrid approach and you have been asked to replace a Project Manager who recently left the project for personal reasons. A new regulatory requirement has emerged, and you are working with your team to perform an impact analysis. However, no one on your team knows who will actually approve this change. What should you do next?
A. Make the change since this is a Regulatory Requirement.
B. Review the Configuration Management Plan to determine who will approve the change.
C. Reach out to the Sponsor to approve the change.
D. Review the Change Management Plan to determine the next steps.
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The change control procedures will be documented in the Change Management Plan, and this will include who has the authority to approve changes. The Sponsor may or may not be involved in the approval process. Even though this is a regulatory requirement, the change still has to be approved.
You are the project manager for a large construction company. You are currently managing a project to expand an existing facility. Which of the following is an output of Control Scope?
A. Workarounds
B. Change requests
C. Transference
D. Risk assessment
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Change request are outputs of Control scope. Choices A, C, and D are all related to risk.
You are the project manager for a 12-month bridge construction project. You are currently in month 9 and are only 60% complete with the project. You determine changes need to be made to get the project on track and issue a change request. What should the change request authorize?
A. Overtime for the project team to get the schedule back on track
B. Use of the management reserve to crash the schedule
C. Implementation of corrective action based on the causes of the situation
D. Crash the project schedule to shorten its duration by adding resources
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
A is incorrect because this option is typically used to correct a minor delay. B is wrong because the PM has no authority over the management reserves. C is correct because a corrective action needs to be implemented. D is incorrect because there is not enough information to determine if crashing is the right technique.
A project has the following characteristics: -To determine what product should be created, a feasibility study has been conducted. -A change request has now been approved to develop another product that contradicts the original requirements. -Data analysis was conducted before the change request was approved. Which action should the project manager take?
A. Execute the change request.
B. Decline the change request.
C. Ask for a detailed report of the data analysis.
D. Ask for a feasibility study of the new product.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Approved change requests can require new or revised cost estimates, activity sequences, schedule dates, resource requirements, and/or analysis of risk response alternatives. These changes can require adjustments to the project management plan and other project documents. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017), 4. Project Integration Management / 4.6.2 Perform Integrated Change Control: Tools and Techniques, pp118-119
You have received a change request and are about to present it to the change control board for its consideration and possible approval. Which of the following must you have in order to present the request properly?
A. Supporting details for the change including how it affects various constraints
B. Approval of the change from the project team
C. Approval of the change from a subject matter expert in the relevant area
D. Risk assessment for each proposed change
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The change request must be supported by further information, including but not limited to, how it will affect the project constraints (time, costs, etc.). This analysis must always be done before presenting a change request for approval.
A project sponsor asks the project manager to change production materials because these materials could cause health problems to consumers. What is an appropriate step for the project manager to take?
A. Follow the project change control process to investigate the matter thoroughly.
B. Immediately implement the change and submit a change request for formal documentation.
C. End the current work and enact the change control process.
D. Reject the change because the request is outside of scope.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The project manager must follow the documented and agreed upon change control processes. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017), 4. Project Integration Management / 4.6 Perform Integrated Change Control, p113
During a meeting, one of your team members advises you she has been told by some stakeholders that they are not seeing the change log on a regular basis. During creation of the communications management plan, they had agreed to receive this report by email but many of them overlook it. You agree to modify the communications management plan to put the change log on a central server, so all stakeholders can pull it down. Your next move is to:
A. Change the communications management plan to reflect the stakeholder wishes and keep a copy of it for yourself.
B. Make sure the sponsor does not have a problem with this change
C. Just start putting the change log on the pull server. You can always modify the communications management plan later.
D. Submit a change request asking to make a change to the communications management plan.
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Once you have created your plans and are in execution, those documents are under control and can only be changed by submitting a change request. The change control board must approve the change before you can implement it.
You are a senior project manager with a start-up organization. Until your arrival, things have been chaotic with minimal documentation and structure. You have been brought on board to establish and document processes and create a PMO. You want to manage changes actively. Where is the change control system documented?
A. Quality management plan
B. Cost management plan
C. Project management plan
D. Change control plan
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The change control system is documented in the project management plan.
A project manager has completed the following steps: Finished a major IT deployment project, confirmed with the release manager that all systems are working, confirmed that functionality has been verified by the quality assurance team, informed the customer. What is the next step the project manager should take?
A. Add the lessons learned to the organization knowledge base.
B. Update the risk register, stakeholders, and team members.
C. Ensure that the procurement plan is closed out.
D. Review, verify, and complete the release documentation.
Answer: A
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
During project close out, lessons learned and knowledge gained throughout the project are transferred to the lessons learned repository for use by future projects. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.4.3.1/104
You are managing a hybrid project and the Change Control Board just rejected a change request. What should you do next?
A. Resubmit the change request and try to get it approved the next time around.
B. Revert back to the Change Control Board to see why they rejected the change.
C. Work with the team to re-analyze the impact before submitting again.
D. Update appropriate documentation to show that the change request was rejected.
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
If the change has been rejected, then the next thing is to update appropriate documentation with the status of the change (rejected). If you or anyone feels that the rejection was an error, then you can work with the CCB afterwards by all means. But the question asked what you should do next, and the next thing to do is update the status. PMI Authorized PMP Exam Prep Student Guide/ Page 184
You are the Project Manager for ACME software company. Your current project is doing well, but you have many defects. You submitted a change request which recently came back approved. You have had several issues in the past with change requests not fulfilling their requirements. As the Project Manager, how should you proceed?
A. Update the change log, implement changes, and monitor and control all changes
B. Implement the change and hope it will be different this time
C. Update the change log and other documents, inform the stakeholders, and follow the new plan
D. Conduct configuration management and direct project work
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The question is truly asking about the steps in change control. The question states a change request recently came back approved. Do not be distracted by the scenario. Steps in Change Control Process are: 1) Prevent the root cause of changes, 2) Identify the change with documentation, 3) Evaluate the impact of the change, 4) Issue the change request to the CCB, 5) Perform Integrated Change Control (get CCB approval), 6) Update change request log and project documents to reflect the change, 7) Communicate the change (and impacts) to stakeholders and get buy-in, and 8) Direct and manage the project according to the new plan.
Minimizing/avoiding scope creep through effective change control can have a positive impact on the timeline of a project. Which of the following is an input to Perform Integrated Change Control?
A. Change control meeting
B. Performance measurement
C. Work performance reports
D. Change request status updates
Answer: C
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
Work performance report is an input to this process and includes information regarding the performance of the project. Answers A, B, and D are incorrect because they are not inputs to the Perform Integrated Change Control process.
Documenting baseline variances, outlining a plan to manage and resolve the variances, and setting forth a framework in which corrective actions to the project plan can be made are all part of which process?
A. Direct and Manage Project Work
B. Monitor and Control Project Work
C. Performance Measurement Baseline
D. Perform Integrated change control
Answer: D
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The perform integrated change control process allows you to document changes, their impact, the response to those changes, and to show any performance deficits and plans to resolve the same.
You are the project manager for a start-up software company. In a status meeting, you just learned that a crucial piece of the software your team was creating is not working. This will cause the project to be late by one month and will likely cost additional money for the developers’ time. What is the next step you should take?
A. Determine the impact of the change to decide whether to initiate Integrated Change Control
B. Create a change request to get approval for the revised work required to fix the problem
C. Complete root-cause analysis to determine why the problem occurred
D. Present the problem to the customer, with your solution to resolve the problem
Answer: B
Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes
The question states that you have identified the problem and have done the impact assessment (you know that the change will cause a 1-month delay). The next step is to create a change request to get approval to fix the problem. While answer choice D looks good, according to the PMBOK Guide, you should not go to the customer until after you perform integrated change control.
