Guide to Scope Change - PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition

Scope Change is an essential aspect of Project Management, defined in the PMBOK Guide. It refers to the alterations and variations made in the project's scope after the project planning phase.

Why is it important?
Managing scope change is crucial to project success. Uncontrolled changes often lead to scope creep, resulting in budget overruns and schedule delays. By ensuring constant surveillance and management, scope changes can be incorporated effectively.


How does it work?
Through the process of scope change control, requests for changes or modifications are captured, assessed, and either approved, rejected, or deferred. The approved changes are then incorporated into the project plan.

How to answer questions on Scope Change in an exam:
Comprehend the question, identify keywords, and align your answer with the PMBOK guide's descriptions and processes. Further, be sure to address the impact and required actions concerning scope change control in your responses.


Exam Tips: Understanding the following will be beneficial:
1. The difference between scope change and scope creep
2. Importance of scope change documentation
3. Roles of stakeholders in scope change
4. Impact of scope change on cost, quality and time
Remember that any unplanned changes to the project scope without going through the formal change control process contribute to scope creep, which is usually detrimental to the project's overall success.