What's your approach to change requests outside your scope?

In my opinion, clearly defined scope is paramount in project management. 🔍 A comprehensive scope acts as a guide, ensuring alignment. 📘 Use tools like Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) for depth and clarity. 🛠 Regularly reconfirm scope with stakeholders to prevent unscheduled changes. 🚀 The goal is setting clear expectations, not just avoiding scope creep. 🔑 Implement a scope management plan detailing change assessment and integration. 📌 Periodic scope audits reinforce understanding and adherence among stakeholders.

As part of the planning phase, it is mandatory to define the scope of the project. In adaptive (Agile) model, the scope can be changed easily whereas in predictive (Waterfall) scope change has to go through a change control process. It is important to use the best available tools & techniques for requirements elicitation and defining the scope.

It’s really easy from my simple view of the world. I’ll be working to the latest contract scope instructed otherwise. I.e. a change to the legally binding document. Want something different, no problem please instruct me via the contract. We’ll price it and let you know of any impact If you’re not working to a contract change the word contract for formally agreed and documented scope and go back round the loop. Really struggle with the baseline thing as well. We agree a scope at the outset and suck up change along the way making it the latest version of the programme with the latest scope. Every time I hear the words re-baseline it hits of coverup and stepping away from what was agreed. Any my thoughts.

A great change control process is close to automated. Whenever is change is raised through formal means like support tool, email, change forms, etc. all these should trigger a rule based chain of events like evaluation, approval, budgeting and so on.

In my experience, every change request is always "critical" yet "it's small so it shouldn't impact your timelines". This is especially true when you are managing external projects with clients. Every stakeholder feels their changes are critical yet can be done without any impact on project. As a project manager, it's your job to educate the stakeholders about the impact of all such changes. Explain how this would change the timeline, budget or scope of the project. Back this up with data to make for a stronger case, better, show the backlog of changes and how this one is stacked against all such changes. An effective project manager not just builds a strong change management process but also educates the team on the same.

Change requests can come from executive stakeholders, senior leadership, or customers. No matter the source, it's important to understand why the change is being requested. As soon as a change request comes through, be sure to record it, even if it ultimately doesn't result in a scope change.