Change Management

How to modify the Project Plan? 

Change management is the set of procedures that handle all processes related to modification in the project baseline after execution is started.

• Note that it only makes sense to talk about change management in the context of projects adopting the predictive approach because for agile projects change is intrinsic and continuous.
• Also, do not mix up change and transformation.

Overview

• change management requires procedures to document, approve and implement the requests
• formalize change request (what and why)
• evaluate request, assess impact in the key dimensions: scope, time and cost
• decision by the project Steering Committee (chaired by the Sponsor)
• update product configuration following proper Configuration Management practices

Workflow

1. Start with the collection of the change request next to customers or users
2. the request must be structured with a clear justification
3. the project manager evaluates the change from different perspectives to respect the constraints set by the triangle of constraints
4. a recommendation is made to accept or deny the change with one or more clearly defined reasons
5. a legal expert checks that the contract allows for the change and green lights it
6. the whole package (request, recommendation and legal approval) is submitted to the project’s steering committee (usually headed by the project sponsor) that decides to accept or deny the request
7. if the request is denied, the project manager must inform the clients that issue the request to avoid future legal issues that may result in claims
8. if the request is accepted, the project manager must change the baseline and make sure that the team is informed to execute the work
9. the project manager must also update all relevant planning documents as well as the configuration (Configuration Management) of the deliverables