A project manager is leading a project when a key stakeholder requests additional work that is not in the scope. The stakeholder is also concerned that the project sponsors may not approve and fund…

Discussing with the sponsor without a full understanding of the impact from the team would be premature and unprofessional, as the project manager would lack comprehensive information.

Evaluating only the cost is insufficient; the project manager needs to understand the team's capacity, technical implications, and schedule impact as part of a comprehensive assessment.

Engaging the project team first is crucial because they provide the technical input necessary to understand the feasibility, effort, and potential impact of the requested change on the existing project scope, schedule, and resources.

Submitting a change request requires a thorough impact assessment, which relies on input from the project team; therefore, this is a subsequent step, not the first.