What is the purpose of a change management plan?

The purpose of a change management plan is to outline how changes to the project will be managed and controlled. This plan establishes a structured approach for assessing, approving, and implementing changes to the project scope, schedule, resources, or any other aspects that may impact the project's execution. It ensures that all changes are evaluated systematically, taking into consideration the potential effects on project objectives, timelines, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Having a change management plan in place is crucial as it helps to prevent scope creep, which can negatively impact resource allocation and project deliverables. Additionally, it promotes communication among project team members and stakeholders, facilitating transparency and alignment when changes are proposed and executed.

While other choices present concepts relevant to project management, they do not address the specific function of a change management plan. For instance, increasing project scope and budget or creating a detailed project timeline could occur through the change management process, but they do not define its primary purpose. The identification of project stakeholders is essential for successful project execution as well but is not the focus of the change management plan.