Guide: Understanding the Change Control Board

What it is: The Change Control Board (CCB) refers to a committee that makes decisions regarding whether to approve or reject change requests in a project management environment.= It can consist of project stakeholders, project managers, and other high-ranking members from an organization.

Why it is Important: It is vital because it provides systematic and controlled processing of changes within a project. This can help prevent unnecessary alterations that may derail the project and cause overrun of resources. The CCB also ensures that all potential effects of changes are analyzed and mitigated.

How it Works: Generally, whenever a change is proposed, it goes through a thorough review and analysis phase. The CCB reviews the impact, costs, benefits, and risks associated with the proposed change, and then decides whether to implement it or not. The decision is generally communicated back to the requestor with a clear explanation of why the resolution was made.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Change Control Board:
1. Understand the CCB role: Be clear about the purpose and role of the CCB. Knowing who is part of the board and their responsibilities can help answer the questions correctly.
2. Be mindful of the process: The process about how a change request goes through the CCB should be very clear. Be sure to know the steps involved - from a request, analysis, decision, and communication back to the requestor.
3. Impact Analysis: This is an essential part of the CCB’s decision-making process. Highlight the importance of this phase in your answers, and how it helps in determining whether a change request should be granted or denied.
4. Know real-life applications: While theory is crucial, understanding how CCBs operate in real-life scenarios can provide context and depth to your answers. Look for case studies or examples that illustrate the work of CCB's.