CAPM Practice Exam Question

A project manager is overseeing a construction project. During the execution phase, the project team identifies that a new government regulation requires additional safety inspections that were not originally planned. What should the project manager do first?

A) Implement the safety inspections immediately

B) Submit a change request

C) Update the project management plan to include the inspections

D) Inform the project sponsor about the new regulation

Looking for more practice exam questions like this? Enroll in our online CAPM Exam Prep course , featuring more than 1,700 practice questions. By doing so, you can supercharge your CAPM Exam preparation and earn 37 Contact Hours, which is essential for your exam application. Enroll now for the ultimate exam readiness!

Best Answer: B) Submit a change request

Explanation:

The project manager should submit a change request as the first step. Here's why:

• B) Submit a change request is the correct answer because any changes to the project scope, schedule, cost, or other baselines must go through the change control process. The new government regulation introduces a requirement that was not part of the original plan, which will likely impact the project scope and possibly the schedule and cost. Submitting a change request ensures that the project formally addresses this new requirement and that all stakeholders agree on how to proceed before making any changes.
• A) Implement the safety inspections immediately is incorrect because making changes without following the formal change control process can lead to scope creep, unapproved budget overruns, and misalignment with stakeholders. Implementing the inspections immediately bypasses the necessary review and approval process.
• C) Update the project management plan to include the inspections is incorrect because the project management plan should not be updated until the change request is reviewed and approved. The plan should reflect the agreed-upon changes after the proper change control procedures are followed.
• D) Inform the project sponsor about the new regulation is incorrect as the first action because while keeping the sponsor informed is important, the initial step should be to formally submit a change request. Informing the sponsor might be part of the communication plan, but it should not precede the submission of a change request, as the change control process involves multiple stakeholders and formal documentation.

In summary, submitting a change request is the best choice because it follows the proper change control process, ensuring that all impacts of the new regulation are considered and approved before any updates are made to the project. The other options, while important in certain contexts, do not correctly follow the sequence of steps required when dealing with changes to the project.