What are the tools and techniques for project change management and issue escalation?

1 Change Management Process

The change management process is a systematic way of managing and documenting any changes that affect the project scope, schedule, budget, quality, or risks. It involves four main steps: identifying, analyzing, approving, and implementing changes. You should have a change management plan that defines the roles, responsibilities, procedures, and criteria for each step. The change management plan should also include a change log, a change request form, and a change control board.

2 Change Management Tools

Change management tools are the techniques and methods that help you identify, analyze, approve, and implement changes. Change impact analysis is a tool that can assess the effects of a proposed change on the project objectives, deliverables, stakeholders, and resources, as well as identify the risks, benefits, and costs of the change. A change request form can document and communicate the details of a proposed change, such as the description, justification, priority, and impact of the change. Additionally, a change control board can review and approve or reject change requests. This board should have clear and consistent criteria and procedures for evaluating and approving changes.

4 Issue Escalation Tools

Issue escalation tools are the techniques and methods that help you identify, report, escalate, and resolve issues. For example, an issue log can record and monitor the details of each issue, such as the description, priority, status, owner, and resolution. An issue report can communicate and document the details of an escalated issue, such as the background, impact, options, and recommendations. Additionally, an escalation matrix can determine the appropriate level and person to escalate an issue to, based on the severity, urgency, and complexity of the issue. It can also define the escalation criteria, process, and timeframe for each level and person.