Change Management Plan

Correct Answer: Analyze the changes and follow the Change Management Plan

The best approach in managing changes during the execution phase of a project, as suggested in the given answers, is to 'Analyze the changes and follow the Change Management Plan'. This is because the change management plan outlines the process for handling changes in the project. This includes evaluating their impact on the project's triple constraint (scope, time, and cost), and making appropriate adjustments. Ignoring changes or accepting all changes without assessing their impact can lead to uncontrolled scope creep, which could jeopardize the project. Escalating the situation to the project sponsor without first analyzing the changes may result in hasty decisions that could have a negative effect on the project.

Correct Answer: Evaluate the change request using the project's Change Management Plan

The best approach when a change request is submitted that could significantly impact the project's timeline is to 'Evaluate the change request using the project's Change Management Plan'. This is because the Change Management Plan exists precisely for this kind of situation. It provides a structured process for assessing the impact of proposed changes and deciding whether to implement them. This option aligns best with standard project management practices. 'Implement the change without any evaluation' and 'Reject the change request without evaluation' is not a valid approach because they both skip the important evaluation step which could lead to unanticipated issues downstream or miss an important improvement to the project. 'Ask the stakeholder to reconsider their request' may not always be feasible or appropriate, as it may contradict the role of stakeholders in the project. Hence, evaluating against the change management plan is the correct procedure.

Correct Answer: Evaluate the proposed method using the Change Management Plan

The best course of action when a team member identifies a more efficient method for completing a project task is to 'Evaluate the proposed method using the Change Management Plan'. In project management, it's crucial not to rush the implementation of any new methods without a thorough evaluation. The Change Management Plan includes procedures for examining and assessing the potential impacts of changes to the project, ensuring they don't negatively affect the project's outcome. Ignoring the suggestion is not a constructive approach to innovative ideas and may discourage team members from further contributions. Implementing the new method without evaluation can risk the project's success as it may introduce unidentified issues. Holding a vote to adopt the new method is also not the right way because it doesn't ensure the new method is technically sound, compliant with project requirements, or beneficial to the project. Hence, only the first option, 'Evaluate the proposed method using the Change Management Plan' is the correct and best action.