Known as SCOPE Changes. Change requests are inevitable in any project. Successful project managers effectively manage changes through the use of change control boards.
Change Control Boards (CCB) can take many shapes. Their purpose is to review and prioritize changes presented during the course of the project. The CCB can range from the project manager and the project sponsor meeting on a regular basis to review requests, formally or informally, to a committee of representatives from a variety of disciplines throughout the organization.
There are three categories of changes that can occur:
The selection and prioritization of changes comes from the work performed by the CCB. Changes should be quantified, analyzed and prioritized using some form of a ranking system. Having a pre-defined ranking system will facilitate decision making by making the decision an objective choice, eliminating emotional reactions. Keeping decisions as objective as possible will minimize unnecessary work affecting the overall success of the project.