Regulations
Government-issued obligations that projects must follow. They can define required characteristics for a product, process, or service, and include administrative rules with compliance mandated by law.
Key Points
- Set by governmental authorities; compliance is legally mandatory.
- May dictate technical specs, safety, quality, environmental, or reporting requirements for products, processes, or services.
- Must be identified early and integrated into scope, schedule, budget, quality, and procurement plans.
- Noncompliance can lead to fines, stop-work orders, loss of permits, or legal liability; proof often requires permits, audits, or certifications.
Example
A construction project must comply with building codes, OSHA safety rules, and environmental permitting. The team incorporates these regulatory requirements into the design, schedules inspections, obtains permits, and allocates budget for mandated safety equipment and testing.
PMP Example Question
During planning, a new government rule alters how customer data must be stored and reported. What should the project manager do first?
- Update the lessons learned register so future projects are aware.
- Analyze the regulation, determine applicable requirements, and integrate them into the scope and compliance plan.
- Fast-track the schedule to finish before the rule takes effect.
- Transfer the risk to a vendor through stricter contract language.
Correct Answer: B — Analyze the regulation and integrate requirements into project plans
Explanation: The project manager must first understand the mandated requirements and incorporate them into scope, planning documents, and controls to ensure legal compliance.
