What is the Next Step After Updating the Project Plan for an Approved Change?

PK0-005 By islever Editorial Last updated

Short answer

D Implement the change.

Question

As a result of an approved change, the project manager updates the project plan with the newest project end date. Which of the following change control processes should the project manager complete next?
  1. Document the request in the change control log.
  2. Perform a Monte Carlo simulation.
  3. Conduct an impact assessment.
  4. Implement the change. Correct Answer

Key Takeaways

Tests precise knowledge of the change management workflow sequence, with the common trap being the misplacement of documentation or analysis steps after approval has already occurred.

This question evaluates the standardized sequence of the change control process within project management frameworks. The community consensus confirms that implementing the approved change is the logical next step after baseline updates.

Common mistake: Option A is frequently selected by candidates who incorrectly assume documentation should follow plan updates, overlooking that logging a change request must happen at the initiation phase before any assessment or approval.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

After a change request receives formal approval and the project management plan is revised to reflect new parameters, the workflow immediately advances to execution. Standard change control methodology dictates a linear progression: submit request, evaluate impact, secure approval, update baselines, and finally implement. Because the scenario explicitly states the plan has already been updated, implementation is the only procedurally sound next action.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Documenting the request (Option A) belongs at the very beginning of the lifecycle, long before approval or scheduling adjustments occur. Conducting an impact assessment (Option C) and running simulations like Monte Carlo (Option B) are analytical tasks performed during the review phase to determine feasibility and risk. Attempting these retrospective evaluations after baseline updates violates established governance protocols and introduces unnecessary delays.

Community Comment Notes

Test-takers overwhelmingly validate Option D, emphasizing that updating the schedule signals the transition from planning to execution. Several users initially hesitated toward documentation due to habit, but clarified that tracking logs are created upfront, not post-approval. Comments [1], [2], and [4] correctly highlight the sequential nature of the CCP, while comment [3] accurately identifies the timing misconception that distracts less experienced candidates.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Always map scenario keywords to their exact position in the project lifecycle; phrases like "approved" and "plan updated" automatically bypass earlier phases. Memorize the linear change control sequence to quickly eliminate options that belong to prior or unrelated stages.

Community Votes

D
83%
A
17%

83% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 4 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors, not of islever. The comments shown first are the most substantive of the thread — ranked by depth, community endorsement and relevance; expand the list below to read the rest.

From public community threads 4

  1. GDLY 👍 2 Answered D
    After updating project plan, next step is implement
  2. stinkle 👍 1 Answered D
    After updating the project plan, the next step in CCP is implementation
  3. 1324c82 👍 1 Answered A
    Documentation happens before implementation.
  4. bigjudy2560 👍 2 Answered D
    Its D, per the documentation.

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