What is change control within project management?
Requests for changes that occur while projects are in flight have the potential to delay a project or keep a team from successfully meeting the goals of the initiative. While assistant project managers are unlikely to drive the change control process, they are typically expected to be aware of change requests and assist in the facilitation of impact analysis and approval activities. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select is familiar with this key project management concept.
Remember to include a brief description of the various activities involved in change control in addition to a basic definition of the concept. Interviewers appreciate candidates that can demonstrate advanced understanding of this critical project scope management processes.
"Change control is the process for dealing with scope changes that arise over the course of a project. Changes could include changes to the requirements during the analysis phase, changes during development, and changes that result during testing and acceptance.
The change control process is different depending on the type of project and the methodology followed. However, each method includes making an impact assessment and negotiating changes to the project scope, cost, or timeline to account for the requested changes. Additionally, there is typically an approval or sign-off process included to ensure all parties involved understand the impact and adjust their expectations accordingly."
