Change request


A change request, sometimes called change control request, is a document containing a call for an adjustment of a system; it is of great importance in the change management process.

Purpose and elements

A change request is declarative, i.e. it states what needs to be accomplished, but leaves out how the change should be carried out. Important elements of a change request are an ID, the customer, the deadline, an indication whether the change is required or optional, the change type and a change abstract, which is a piece of narrative. An example of a change request can be found in Figure 1 on the right.

Synonyms

Change requests have many different names, which essentially describe the same concept:
  • Request For Change by Rajlich ; RFC is also a common term in ITIL and PRINCE2.
  • Engineering Change by Huang and Mak ;
  • Engineering Change Request at Aero;
  • Engineering Change Order by Loch and Terwiesch and Pikosz and Malmqvist. Engineering Change Order is a separate step after ECR. After ECR is approved by Engineering Department then an ECO is made for making the change;
  • Change Notice at Chemical;
  • Action Request at ABB Robotics AB ;
  • Change Request is, among others, used by Lam, Mäkäräinen, Dennis, et al., Crnkovic, Asklund and Persson-Dahlqvist and at ABB Automation Products AB.
  • Operational Change Request.
  • Enterprise Change Request.