Change Request Template

What Is a Change Request Template?

A change request is a request to increase, decrease or modify any document, deliverable, or baseline. It is a formal, written request that occurs after the parameters of the project have been agreed to or baselined and after the project is underway.

The ability to control change is paramount to project success. Without a change control process, the project manager’s ability to control scope, schedule, cost and quality is greatly diminished.

The change request form is arguably the most important document in the change control process. It provides a single avenue for requesting a change. Once the change is requested, it becomes sized and either approved, deferred, or disapproved. If approved, the projects plans must reflect the change and the change must be implemented.

This change request template captures a description of the change, the reason for it, sections for impact analysis and a place to record the decision regarding the request. Lastly, this template captures the signature of the person who approved the changed.

Like all of the templates here, this one is editable. Change it any way you would like to better fit the needs of your project.

Change Request Template

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Your free Change Request template is provided below.

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Who Creates the Change Request?

A change request can be created by the project manager, the client, the sponsor or another project stakeholder.

What Are the Inputs?

Inputs to a change request include all of the monitoring and controlling processes and many of the executing processes. All project planning documents that concern the subject of the change request may become an input.

How Is It Used?

The change request is used to formally request the change. It can include a request for corrective action, preventative action and defect repair. Once complete, it becomes submitted to the change control board for approval or rejection. Like all other work activities, approved change requests become planned, executed, monitored and controlled and closed.

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Change Request Template - Word


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Change Request Template - PDF


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Looking for a better solution? Consider getting The Practitioner’s Book of Project Management Templates. It’s a set of 86 editable project management templates. We think you’ll find these templates help eliminate gaps in planning. By the way, the e-book includes an updated version of this Change Request template.

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