Change Log

Correct Answer: Update the project management plan and all related documents to reflect the approved change, and ensure the Change Log is updated accordingly.

In a predictive, plan-based project, once a significant change is approved through the formal change control process, the project manager must update the project management plan and all related documents to reflect the approved change. This ensures that the project remains aligned with its objectives and that all stakeholders are aware of the new direction. Updating the change log is essential for maintaining an accurate record of changes and for communication purposes. Proper documentation and integration of the change into all project planning components is critical to project success. Bypassing updates to documentation or delaying implementation can lead to misalignment, confusion, and potential project risks.

Correct Answer: Review change log for root cause and improve future change impact analysis.

The most effective way to address this issue is by reviewing the change log to understand the root cause of the negative impact. This will help in identifying if the implemented changes were not analyzed properly, or if there were any unpredicted shortcomings. Finally, this review can help in refining future change impact analyses. Asking the project team to deal with the negative impact (second answer) is not particularly constructive or proactive. This might create a stressful environment and can result in further inaccuracies or complications. Doing nothing, as suggested in the third answer is definitely a poor management practice, as it can lead to further unexpected problems and can create a negative perception about project management among the project team. Trying to reverse the changes (fourth answer) is not practical or always feasible, and might actually cause more harm than good - especially if the changes have deeply integrated into the project or product. It's better to learn from the situation, adapt, and improve for the future.

Correct Answer: Institute a policy to ensure that all changes, including the smallest ones, are captured in the change log.

The best answer is to institute a policy to ensure that all changes, including the smallest ones, are captured in the change log. In project management, it is crucial to track all changes, regardless of their size, to maintain control over the project scope, budget, and timeline. Even small changes can accumulate and have a significant impact on the project if not properly managed. Requesting a review of all petty cash receipts, while helpful in understanding the current situation, does not address the underlying issue of ensuring that all changes are logged and tracked consistently. Approving the cash requests to avoid project delays is not an appropriate solution, as it may lead to uncontrolled scope creep and budget overruns. Establishing a clear policy that mandates the logging of all changes, no matter how small, ensures that the project manager has a complete and accurate picture of the project's progress and can make informed decisions to keep the project on track.