What type of change requires the submission of a change request?

According to the PMBOK® Guide, specifically within the Perform Integrated Change Control process, any change to a project baseline (Scope, Schedule, or Cost) must be formally documented and processed through a change request.

Formal Change Control: The Scope Baseline consists of the Project Scope Statement, the WBS, and the WBS Dictionary. Because this baseline represents the approved version of the project work, any modification to it—whether it is adding a new feature or removing a requirement—requires a formal Change Request (CR).

The Process:

Impact Analysis: The project manager evaluates how the scope change affects cost, time, quality, and risk.

Submission: A formal change request is submitted to the Change Control Board (CCB) or the Project Sponsor.

Approval/Rejection: The change is either approved, deferred, or rejected.

Update: If approved, the Scope Baseline and Project Management Plan are updated to reflect the new reality.

Preventing Scope Creep: Requiring formal change requests for scope modifications is the primary defense against Scope Creep, which is the uncontrolled expansion of product or project scope without adjustments to time, cost, and resources.

Analysis of Other Options:

A. Changes in assigned resources: Minor shifts in resource assignments are often handled by the project manager within the Manage Team or Acquire Resources processes. Unless the change impacts the budget or schedule baseline, it typically does not require a formal CR.

B. Changes in a technical solution: While a technical solution change might eventually lead to a scope change, the technical " how-to " is often managed by the project team or experts. If the technical change stays within the existing scope and budget, a formal baseline change request may not be necessary.

C. Changes in status reporting: Changing how or when status is reported is a change to the Communications Management Plan. While the plan might be updated, this is generally considered a management adjustment rather than a formal change to a project baseline requiring CCB intervention.