Change Control

Change Control is a systematic process within project management that manages changes to the project scope, schedule, budget, or deliverables. It's essential because projects rarely execute exactly as planned. The Change Control process includes: 1. Identifying proposed changes: Stakeholders submit change requests when they see potential improvements or necessary adjustments. 2. Reviewing change requests: The project team evaluates the impact of requested changes on scope, time, cost, quality, resources, risk, and other project constraints. 3. Approving or rejecting changes: A Change Control Board (CCB) or designated authority makes decisions based on the assessment of impacts. 4. Implementing approved changes: Updating project documents, plans, and baseline as necessary. 5. Communicating changes: Informing stakeholders about approved changes and their implications. Effective Change Control requires proper documentation through a Change Request form that captures the description, justification, impacts, and approval status. The Change Log tracks all requests and their dispositions. Benefits of formalized Change Control include preventing scope creep, maintaining baseline integrity, ensuring proper resource allocation, providing traceability, and improving project success rates. It's important to note that Change Control differs from change management. Change Control focuses on managing technical project changes, while change management addresses the people side of change. In agile environments, Change Control is more flexible but still necessary, typically managed through backlog refinement and sprint planning. The PMBOK Guide places Change Control within the Integrated Change Control process, emphasizing its importance across all knowledge areas. Proper implementation ensures that changes are beneficial, deliberate, and well-communicated rather than reactive or unplanned.

Change Control is a systematic process within project management that manages changes to the project scope, schedule, budget, or deliverables. It's essential because projects rarely execute exactly a…

Concepts covered: Change Management Plan, Change Request, Change Control Tools, Cost Change Control, Change Control Board, Change Impact Analysis, Change Log, Perform Integrated Change Control, Configuration Management, Change Order, Scope Change, Schedule Change Control, Quality Change Control