Change Order

Correct Answer: Acknowledge the change, evaluate its impact, and initiate the formal change control process involving stakeholders for approval.

The best course of action is to acknowledge the change, evaluate its impact, and initiate the formal change control process involving stakeholders for approval. As the project manager, it's essential to ensure that all changes, even those that seem beneficial, go through the proper change control procedures. This maintains transparency, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to the project's scope, schedule, and budget. By evaluating the change formally, you can assess its effects on the project's objectives and obtain the necessary approvals. This prevents potential issues such as scope creep, budget overruns, or schedule delays that could arise from unapproved changes. Accepting the change without following the process may lead to unmanaged risks and disregard stakeholder involvement. Reprimanding the team member and reversing the change might overlook the potential benefits of the improvement. Proceeding with the change and informing stakeholders later compromises the integrity of the change control process and may lead to trust issues or conflicts.

Correct Answer: Present the analysis to the change control board

The best course of action, when a change will add value but also cause delays, is to present the analysis to the change control board. This option is based on the principle that it's not solely up to you to decide on such changes to the project; it must be run through the appropriate procedures. Implementing the change immediately, goes against this process and can lead to poor results, and rejecting the request goes against the fact that it will add value to the project. The option to redesign the project to accommodate the changes may be an alternative, however, it is a more drastic measure and would usually be considered after the change control board has reviewed the analysis.

Correct Answer: Assess the change order's perceived value and its alignment with the project's objectives

According to the PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition, when a change order introduces a new technology that could impact the project's deliverability, cost, and scope, the project manager should first assess the change order's perceived value and its alignment with the project's objectives. This involves evaluating whether the new technology will provide benefits that outweigh the costs and if it supports the project's main goals. Making such an assessment helps ensure that decisions are strategic and contribute to the project's success. Automatically incorporating the new technology without such an assessment could lead to project failure due to misalignment with project objectives or constraints. Proceeding with the change merely to please the sponsor without considering its overall impact is not advisable because it might not be in the best interest of the project. Postponing technology changes until the next project phase might not take advantage of current opportunities and could delay benefits that align with the project objectives. Therefore, these other options are inappropriate first steps compared to the thoughtful evaluation of the change order's value and alignment with project objectives.