Which of the following is a common trigger for initiating a change control process?

• A. Project completion
• B. Favorable weather
• C. Unused budget
• D. Client instruction

Answer: (D)

Change control is triggered by a formal request to modify the project's scope, schedule, or cost. The most common trigger is a directive or instruction from the client to change what’s being delivered or how it’s delivered. When such a client instruction arrives, the team begins the change control process to assess the impact on cost, time, quality, risk, and resources, and to secure the necessary approvals before making any changes.

Other scenarios like project completion, favorable weather, or unused budget don’t inherently start this process. Completion ends the project; favorable weather might affect sequencing but doesn’t by itself demand a formal change assessment; unused budget is a financial matter, not a change to the agreed scope or plan, and thus doesn’t automatically initiate change control.