To prevent changes to product specifications being implemented without proper approval, review which project management plan?

To prevent changes to product specifications being implemented without proper approval, review which project management plan?

• A. Configuration Management Plan
• B. Communications Management Plan
• C. Scope Management Plan
• D. Change Management Plan

Answer: (B)

Guarding against unapproved changes to a product’s specifications is handled by configuration control. The Configuration Management Plan details how each configuration item is identified, baselined, and controlled, and it specifies the change control process—who is authorized to approve changes, how change requests are submitted, and how baselines are updated. By defining these procedures, it ensures that any modification to the product specs must go through formal approval before being implemented, preserving the integrity of the project deliverables. The Communications Management Plan focuses on how information about the project is shared, not on controlling changes to the product itself. The Scope Management Plan deals with what is in or out of scope, but not the formal mechanism for approving changes to specifications. A Change Management Plan is related in spirit, outlining how changes are requested and evaluated, but the Configuration Management Plan is the specific document that enforces approved changes to configuration items and maintains the configuration baselines.

Guarding against unapproved changes to a product’s specifications is handled by configuration control. The Configuration Management Plan details how each configuration item is identified, baselined, and controlled, and it specifies the change control process—who is authorized to approve changes, how change requests are submitted, and how baselines are updated. By defining these procedures, it ensures that any modification to the product specs must go through formal approval before being implemented, preserving the integrity of the project deliverables.

The Communications Management Plan focuses on how information about the project is shared, not on controlling changes to the product itself. The Scope Management Plan deals with what is in or out of scope, but not the formal mechanism for approving changes to specifications. A Change Management Plan is related in spirit, outlining how changes are requested and evaluated, but the Configuration Management Plan is the specific document that enforces approved changes to configuration items and maintains the configuration baselines.