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Evaluate the impact and justification of the change.

Disposition the request at the change control board (CCB) and approve or deny.

Implement the change.

Validate the change and perform a quality check.

Update the project management plan, update the appropriate project documents,
and apply version control.

Coordinate and communicate with the appropriate stakeholders.

Identify and Document the Change Request

After the project management plan is approved, all change requests must be submitted
through the change control system. The processes and procedures for change control
should be documented and easily accessible to stakeholders and team members. The
process should describe where to obtain a form for a change request, where and who
change requests are submitted to for consideration, and a communication process for
keeping the requestor apprised of the status.

A change request could be submitted by most anyone working on or associated with

the project. Change requests should always be in writing. This means you’ll need to
devise a template form for stakeholders and others to document the change request,
the reason the change is needed, and what will happen if the change is not made. You
could include a place for other information on the form that you think will help the
review committee determine whether the change should be made. For example, other
information could include potential for additional profits, increased marketability,
improved efficiencies, improved productivity, social awareness or benefits, greening

potential, and so on.

The change request is like a mini-business case that describes the justification,
alternatives, and impacts of the change. Typically, the person requesting the change
presents the request to the change control board.

Beware! Stakeholders are notorious for asking for changes verbally even

though there is a change control process in place. Spend time at the kickoff
meeting explaining to everyone where to find the forms and how to follow the
process. Make it a point that only change requests that come in via the process will
be considered. Verbal requests and drive-bys to the project team will not be
accepted.

Change Request Log

A number of things should happen once the change request is submitted. First, it

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