Scope Change Request Evaluation

Correct Answer: Perform an integrated change control process, assess the potential effect and decide whether to accept or reject the change request.

The most effective course of action during an unexpected issue, forcing a scope change request in a project would be to 'Perform an integrated change control process, assess the potential effect and decide whether to accept or reject the change request.' This involves assessing the impact of the change on all aspects of the project, such as time, cost, quality, and resources, and then taking a informed decision based on the assessment. The other options are not appropriate for the following reasons: 'Accept the change and hope it does not significantly impact the project.' is wishful thinking and does not involve any project management. 'Reject the change without giving any thought to avoid risks.' prematurely rejects potential opportunities for improvement and may lead to conflict with stakeholders. 'Ask your team to expedite the work to accommodate the new change without affecting the project deadline.' puts undue pressure on the team and risks lowering work quality.

Correct Answer: Analyze the impact on project constraints and document the findings

The best answer is to analyze the impact on project constraints and document the findings. This is the most appropriate first step because:

1. It follows the proper change management process in project management.
2. It allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed change before making any decisions.
3. It considers all project constraints (scope, time, cost, quality, resources, and risks) that may be affected by the change.
4. It provides documented information for stakeholders to make an informed decision.

The other options are not the best first steps:

Implementing the change request immediately is not appropriate as it bypasses the change control process and doesn't consider the full impact on the project.

Consulting with the project sponsor for immediate approval is premature without first analyzing the impact and preparing the necessary information.

Conducting a cost-benefit analysis and presenting it to all stakeholders for voting is a good step, but it should come after the initial impact analysis. Additionally, voting may not be the best decision-making method for all projects.

By analyzing the impact first, the project manager ensures a thorough evaluation of the proposed change, which is essential for maintaining project integrity and meeting stakeholder expectations.

Correct Answer: Analyze the impact on project constraints and stakeholder expectations

The best approach when evaluating a scope change request in project management is to analyze the impact on project constraints and stakeholder expectations. This is aligned with best practices because:

1. It considers the triple constraint (scope, time, cost) and how the change might affect these critical project elements.
2. It takes into account stakeholder expectations, which is crucial for maintaining project support and success.
3. It allows for a comprehensive assessment of the change's impact before making a decision.

The other options are less suitable:

Implementing a change request based solely on majority stakeholder support may overlook important project constraints and could lead to issues with time, budget, or quality.

Evaluating only the technical feasibility of a change neglects other important factors such as cost, schedule, and stakeholder needs. A change might be technically possible but still detrimental to the project.

Assessing the change's potential to enhance overall project value is important, but it should not be the sole criterion. This approach may not fully consider the impact on constraints or stakeholder expectations.

The correct approach ensures a balanced evaluation of all relevant factors, aligning with project management best practices and increasing the likelihood of making informed decisions about scope changes.