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Scope Change

5 minutes 5 Questions

Scope Change is an alteration to the initially defined project scope. Scope changes often result from changes in project requirements, organizational objectives, or stakeholder expectations. This change can lead to the adjustment of project deliverables, budget, or schedule, and ultimately impact the project's performance or success. Therefore, managing scope changes effectively is paramount for a project manager. To prevent scope creep, where small changes that build up over time lead to unintentional project expansion, scope changes should follow a formal change control process. This includes analyzing the impact of the change, assessing the feasibility of implementation, getting approval from relevant stakeholders, and updating project documentation accordingly.

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.

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PMP - Change Control Example Questions

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Question 1

A key stakeholder requests a major change to the project scope that wasn't originally planned. What should the project manager do first?

Correct Answer: Evaluate the impact of the change on the project's schedule, cost, and resources.

The Project Manager should first evaluate the impact of the change on the project's schedule, cost, and resources. This is due to the reason that any changes to the project scope can have major implications on time, cost, and resource allocation. Therefore, before making any decisions, the project manager should investigate the potential effects of the proposed change. On the other hand, immediately implementing the change without considering its impacts might lead to problems in the future such as delays or budget overruns. Rejecting the change request without evaluating its impact is not justifiable in most situations. It's essential to maintain open communication amongst stakeholders and considering their requests is part of this process. Finally, telling the team to halt work on the project while a potential change is being considered might lead to unnecessary downtime, delaying the project even further.

Question 2

A change is proposed to the project, which will bring valuable addition but might affect the project's timeframe. How should the project manager handle this?

Correct Answer: Evaluate the proposed change considering its impact on project timeline, cost and quality before making any decisions.

The project manager should evaluate the proposed change considering its impact on project timeline, cost and quality before making any decisions. This is because any change, no matter how valuable, could potentially disrupt the project's balance. It might increase the costs, extend the timelines, or compromise the quality. Therefore, the project manager needs to thoroughly review and understand the implications of the proposed change before deciding on its implementation. Rejecting the change without further consideration would neglect its potential benefits. Similarly, accepting the change without evaluating its impacts could lead to unforeseen complications. Delegating the decision to the project team may not be the best approach since it's the project manager's responsibility to maintain the project's balance and safeguard its objectives.

Question 3

During the execution phase of a construction project, the project team identifies a critical design flaw in the building's foundation that requires immediate rectification. This scope change will impact the project timeline and budget. What should the project manager do FIRST to address this scope change?

Correct Answer: Evaluate the impact of the scope change on project objectives and constraints.

The best course of action for the project manager is to evaluate the impact of the scope change on project objectives and constraints first. This critical step allows the project manager to assess how the design flaw correction will affect the project timeline, budget, and overall deliverables. By understanding the full implications of the scope change, the project manager can then develop a plan to address the issue, communicate with stakeholders, and make necessary adjustments to keep the project on track. Implementing the design flaw correction without considering the schedule and budget implications is not advisable, as it may lead to significant project overruns and delays. Consulting with the client on redesigning the entire building structure is an excessive response to a foundation issue and would likely result in major scope creep and project setbacks. Continuing with the project as planned and addressing the issue in the closing phase is not a viable option, as the critical design flaw requires immediate rectification to ensure the building's structural integrity and safety.

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