What you need to know about change control in project management
Change control is officially defined as the process through which all requests to change the already approved baseline of a project, programme or portfolio are captured, evaluated and then either approved, rejected or deferred. As such, change control is of special importance when the project is part of a larger portfolio. Here, we’ll explore change control in project management…
Change control in project management
No matter how big or small the project changes, as a busy PMO Lead or Project Manager, you’ll need a process via which to efficiently and effectively accept or reject said changes and ensure the outcome is recorded.
Managing change effectively is not only crucial to bringing in your project on time and on budget, but also to ensuring your team stays motivated, works together effectively and works productively.
What are the main stages in a project change control process?
The main stages in a project change control process include –
- Identifying a change
- Validating the change
- Determining the Impact of a validated change
- Reviewing and approving the validated change
- Closing the change
Where every stage is documented, either manually or automatically for future reference.
Implementing change control
Defining the scope of change: one of the most important elements of this process is understanding the scope of a potential change; ‘the scope’ describing the entire project plan and, as such, understanding the scope can help verify if the potential change (or ‘change request’) is relevant to the project goals and therefore if that request includes important information needed to make an informed decision.
Evaluating the impact of potential change: understanding the project scope will provide you with a greater insight into solutions for implementing change and what outcomes could occur after implementing them. It’s important to consider and evaluate options for change and what elements of the project may be affected by a potential change.
Submitting a formal change request: project changes require a change control process, with a specific high-level person, such as a Project Manager or PMO Lead assigned to approve or reject each change request. The easiest and most efficient way to do this – and ensure changes are tracked and documented – is to use an automated change control software which is often offered as part of a PMO or project management tool.
Adjusting project plans: once a change request has been officially approved by the Project Manager or PMO Lead, project plans need to be adjusted appropriately and changes communicated with the team to ensure all team members understand any new objectives, expectations and/or tasks that are required, plus any adjustments to the timeline or budget.
To find out more about Sycamore Gap’s PMO, please contact us.
Alternatively, sign up to our email newsletter for monthly updates.