Change Control Management: An Important Part of Project Success
In a nutshell, change control management is that functional part of project management which incorporates the changes within a project scope, schedule or resources, without in entirety compromising the project with objectives or quality. The change control management process details with examples as follows.
Change Control Management Process
1. Change Identification
Well, it pertains to the process that is the beginning when one identifies all such probable changes happening in the project: changes are normally generated from internal stakeholders by the team members or as external sources. That approach was so structured that it would catch all change requests pretty precise.
Example:
Adding a feature in software project functionality proposed by a stakeholder, which was neither listed nor known in the original project scope.
2. Change Request Documentation
Each change request documents its nature, by what justification is it sought, and possible consequences on scope, schedule, cost and quality in the project.
Example:
the development would require additional two weeks to develop the above new feature and above will incur another incrementation of about $10,000 in budget.
3. Change Request Assessment
Evaluated by the Change Control Board (CCB), or some other designated decision-making team, the request and its viability against the project objectives. Bases on which the review would be carried out include an assessment concerning the goals of the project, availability of resources, and trade-offs expected.
Example:
Review and assess the feature request by the CCB relevant to whether it emphasizes the objectives of the project and the availability of adequate resources for its implementation.
4. Understanding Impact Assessment
The project team thoroughly analyzes the effects of the change request on the whole project: the status of the project, schedule, and budget. This is a report that carries a lot of weight concerning the feasibility of the change. For example:
Where Earned Value: (Ev) $45,000 Actual Cost (AC): $48,000 Cost Performance Index becomes: 0.9375-Hence, there is an overrun in cost.
5. Decision and Approval
After impact assessment relative to objectives, the CCB or project manager decides on approval, rejection, or postponement of the change. All accepted changes shall be stored and the project plan updated consequently.
Example:
This feature request is approved by the CCB as it provides further value to the existing project and confirms resource availability to deliver.
6. Change Integration
Change is integrated into the project after its approval. It includes scope changes, schedule changes, budget changes, and communication to other team members and stakeholders concerning those changes.
Example of Change: The project timeline now extends an additional 2 weeks, while an additional $10,000 has been added to the project budget to cover expenses in developing this new feature.
7. Documentation and Communication
All changes will be documented, from the request to the assessment impact to decisions made and changes to the project plan, in a coordinated manner with continuous updates to stakeholders throughout this process.
Example:
This change documentation comprises a feature description, justification for the feature, assessment of impact, approval, and updated project schedule and budget.
8. Monitoring and Control
In the execution phase, the project manager observes keenly how well the work progresses under changes in schedule, scope, and budget. Status updates are frequent, good performance review does not escape being conducted.
Example:
The project manager will supervise the further two weeks extension for the purpose of developing features which would fulfill the revised deadline.
Benefits of Efficient Change Control Management:
- Prevent Scope Creep: Measures congruence and hence ensures that any change conforms to project goals.
- Control: Help in saving project objectives, quality, budget, and schedule.
- Increase Transparency: To apprise all stakeholders about changes, impacts.
- Help in decision making: Approve-reject change requests based on feasibility against goals.
Conclusion
The change control regime specifies a systematic process of analyzing and approving changes to a project and implementing changes while ensuring the control of objectives and quality. Such a situation would see projects successfully adapt to needed changes.
