What is the first step in implementing a formalized process for changes to functions, processes, or systems?

• A. Incident management
• B. Release planning
• C. Problem management
• D. Change request

Answer: (D)

Submitting a change request (often called a Request for Change) is the first step in formalizing how changes to functions, processes, or systems are handled. This document captures what will change, why it’s needed, who will be affected, the risks and impact, required resources, and the proposed schedule. With this record in hand, the formal change management workflow can begin: risk and dependency analysis, approvals, assignment of a change owner, and planning for implementation, testing, and communication. Other activities address different areas—incident management focuses on restoring service after disruptions, problem management seeks root causes, and release planning handles deployment details—but none establish the formal initiation of a change like the change request does.