What does a change control process ensure?

The change control process is critical in managing modifications to project baselines, ensuring that any changes are documented, assessed, and approved before implementation. This structured approach helps maintain the integrity of project documentation and the systems that rely on those baselines. By ensuring that changes are traceable, the project team can understand the rationale behind modifications and their potential impact on project scope, budget, and timeline.

The primary goal of a change control process is to manage risks associated with changes by providing a systematic way to assess their need and implications, thereby protecting the project from uncontrolled modifications that could lead to confusion or project failure. This focus on integrity and traceability makes it easier to maintain a clear project history and reference points for future evaluations or audits, contributing to overall project success and accountability.

In contrast, other options do not accurately represent the objectives of a change control process. For instance, while flexibility in altering project timelines can be beneficial, it is not a guaranteed outcome of a formal change control process, which emphasizes structured decision-making. Moreover, change control does not inherently aim to reduce costs, nor does it allow for unrestricted changes by all team members, as these could lead to chaos and mismanagement in project execution.