The difference between Change Management and Change Control in a Project.

Summary

In this video, Leslie Greening distinguishes between change control and change management, two concepts often confused in project management. Change control focuses on regulating scope, cost, and time, maintaining a baseline for project parameters. It involves a change control board (CCB) that reviews and approves modifications to the project plan. On the other hand, change management addresses the broader impact of project changes, including communication, training, and public relations, ensuring stakeholders are informed and prepared for project outcomes. This clarification aims to help organizations avoid confusion and effectively manage projects.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Change control and change management are distinct concepts that are sometimes confused.
• 📈 Change control involves controlling scope, cost, and time within a project, ensuring adherence to the established baseline.
• 📋 A change request is created when there's a need to modify scope, time, or cost, detailing the risk, background, and impact of the change.
• 👥 The change control board (CCB), sometimes referred to as a change management board, reviews and approves change requests.
• 🗣️ Change management focuses on managing the impact of the project on stakeholders, including communication and training.
• 📢 Effective change management involves informing stakeholders about project changes and providing them with adequate notice to adapt.
• 🏢 Change management can extend to various sectors, including other industries, government, and the general public, requiring public relations strategies.
• 📝 Training is a key component of change management, with the type and duration of training depending on the project's deliverables.
• 🛠️ Change control helps prevent issues like scope creep by strictly monitoring and controlling project parameters.
• 👍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between change control and change management for successful project execution.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of change control?

Change control is primarily focused on controlling scope, cost, and time within a project. It involves setting up a baseline for these elements and monitoring against them throughout the project life cycle.

How does change control handle changes within a project?

Change control handles changes by initiating a change request or change note when a risk is realized or an issue arises. This document outlines the nature of the change, its impact, and the background, which is then reviewed by a change control board.

What is the difference between a change control board and a change management board?

A change control board (CCB) specifically reviews and approves changes related to scope, cost, and time, while a change management board might be more broadly involved in managing the overall impact of changes. The Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential refer to it as a CCB, emphasizing its role in change control.

What is change management and how does it differ from change control?

Change management is about managing the impact of a project on stakeholders, including communication, training, and public relations. It differs from change control in that it focuses on how changes affect people and systems rather than the project's scope, cost, and time.

Why is communication so important in change management?

Communication is crucial in change management because it informs stakeholders about the changes happening throughout the project or at its completion. It helps stakeholders understand what to expect and gives them time to adapt to the changes.

Can you provide an example of when training might be necessary as part of change management?

Training might be necessary when a project introduces new systems or processes that require users to learn new skills or procedures. This could range from a quick online tutorial to an extensive week-long training course, depending on the project's deliverables.

How does change control prevent issues like scope creep?

Change control prevents scope creep by having a formal process for requesting and reviewing changes. This ensures that any alterations to the project scope are controlled, documented, and approved, preventing unauthorized or unmanaged changes that can lead to scope creep.

What is the role of a baseline in change control?

A baseline in change control is a reference point that includes approved scope, schedule, and cost estimates. It serves as a standard against which project performance is measured. Any changes to the baseline require formal change control processes to maintain project integrity.

Why might an organization confuse change control and change management?

Organizations might confuse change control and change management because both involve dealing with changes within a project. However, the confusion often arises from not distinguishing between the technical aspects of controlling project parameters (change control) and the human and organizational aspects of managing the impact of those changes (change management).

How does public relations fit into change management?

Public relations is part of change management when a project's changes affect external stakeholders, such as the general public. It involves communicating the project's impact, managing the organization's image, and addressing public concerns to ensure a positive reception of the changes.

What is the significance of the 'like and subscribe' mention at the end of the script?

The 'like and subscribe' mention is a common call-to-action in video content, encouraging viewers to engage with the video and follow the channel for more updates. It's a way for content creators to grow their audience and increase the visibility of their work.