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  • Guide overview
    • Gantt Chart Basics
      • How to read a Gantt chart step by step
      • 1. Read the task list (vertical axis) first
      • 2. Orient yourself on the timeline (horizontal axis)
      • 3. Understand what the bars represent
      • 4. Check the fill or progress indicator
      • 5. Follow the arrows or lines between bars
      • 6. Look for diamonds on the timeline
      • 7. Find the critical path if it’s marked
      • 8. Check for a baseline
      • 9. Use the legend
      • Example: Reading a simple Gantt chart
      • Common mistakes to avoid
      • Put what you’ve learned to work
    • Project Management Basics
      • What are the project management basics?
      • What is a project?
      • What is project management?
      • What are the stages of project management?
      • Why is project management important?
      • What do project managers do?
      • Project manager certifications
      • Streamline your projects with Wrike
    • Project Management Charts
      • How to choose the right project management chart
      • The “pick in 30 seconds” checklist
      • 1. Gantt chart
      • 2. Kanban board
      • 3. Work breakdown structure
      • 4. PERT chart
      • 5. Critical path method (CPM)
      • 6. Milestone chart
      • 7. Burndown and burnup charts (for Agile teams)
      • 8. RACI chart
      • Common mistakes when using project management charts
      • Final thoughts
    • Project Management Methodologies
      • The top project management methodologies
      • A. The traditional, sequential methodologies
      • B. The Agile family
      • C. The change management methodologies
      • D. The process-based methodologies
      • E. Other methodologies
      • F. The PMBOK “method”
      • Empower your project management methodology with Wrike
    • Project Lifecycle
      • Key takeaways
      • What is the project lifecycle? 
      • The 5 phases of a project lifecycle
      • 1. The initiation phase
      • 2. The planning phase
      • 3. The execution phase
      • 4. The controlling and monitoring phase
      • 5. Project closure phase
      • Types of project life cycles
      • Predictive lifecycle
      • Iterative lifecycle
      • Incremental lifecycle
      • Agile lifecycle
      • Hybrid lifecycle
      • Who is involved across the project lifecycle?
      • Project manager
      • Project sponsor
      • Team members
      • Stakeholders
      • Functional managers or department leads
      • Why is project lifecycle management important?
      • Best practices in project lifecycle management
      • Start with clear goals and scope
      • Assign clear roles and decision ownership
      • Build a realistic project plan
      • Track progress continuously
      • Standardize workflows where possible
      • Document learnings at closure
      • Use one source of truth
      • Take full control of your project lifecycle with Wrike
    • Best Project Management Software
      • Here’s a list of the project management software we review fully in this guide:
      • The best 15 project management software platforms in 2026
      • 1. Wrike: Best task management software for cross-functional collaboration
      • 2. Asana: Best task management software for attractive visuals
      • 3. Monday.com: Best task management software for use case templates
      • 4. Adobe Workfront: Best task management software for Adobe integration
      • 5. Smartsheet: Best task management software for spreadsheet-style functionality
      • 6. ClickUp: Best task management software for mind mapping
      • 7. Airtable: Best task management software for data-centric teams
      • 8. Jira: Best task management software for development teams
      • 9. Trello: Best task management software for simple projects
      • 10. Notion: Best task management software for document storage
      • 11. Hive: Best task management software for user-led feedback
      • 12. Zoho Projects: Best task management software for the real estate industry
      • 13. Teamwork: Best task management software for teams looking to get started quickly
      • 14. Basecamp: Best task management software for small businesses and teams
      • 15. GanttPro: Best task management software for specialist Gantt charts
      • 10 additional PM software options
      • 1. MeisterTask
      • 2. Microsoft Project 
      • 3. ProWorkflow
      • 4. TeamGantt
      • 5. Accelo
      • 6. ProjectManager
      • 7. Planview AdaptiveWork
      • 8. Scoro
      • 9. Confluence
      • 10. LiquidPlanner
      • Choose Wrike for customizable and truly scalable project management software
      • FAQsWhat is project management software? 
    • Team Collaboration Tips
      • Effective project collaboration tips for teams
      • The importance of collaboration in project management
      • How to set up a project team
      • What makes a successful project team
      • How to make the project kickoff meeting a success
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      • Project management collaboration tips and techniques
      • Tips for remote collaboration and virtual meetings
    • Agile Basics
    • Agile Project Management Tools
      • What are Agile project management tools?
      • How we evaluate and choose the top tools
      • The best Agile project management tools comparison chart
      • What are the 11 best Agile project management tools?
      • 1. Wrike
      • 2. Asana
      • 3. Monday.com
      • 4. ClickUp
      • 5. Smartsheet
      • 6. Adobe Workfront
      • 7. Jira [Atlassian] Work Management 
      • 8. Microsoft Project
      • 9. Teamwork
      • 10. Zoho Sprints
      • 11. ProofHub
      • How to pick the best Agile project management tool
      • Features to look for in Agile project management tools
      • Benefits of using Agile project management tools
      • Collaboration-boosting effects of Agile project management
      • How can an Agile project management tool help your company?
      • FAQs
      • Is Agile a project management tool?
      • How do Agile project management tools support software development teams?
      • Can Agile project management tools be customized for different project needs?
      • What are Agile methodologies, and how do they benefit Agile teams?
      • How do Agile tools improve collaboration in teams?
    • Project Management Frameworks
      • A. What is a project management framework?
      • B. What do Agile frameworks have in common?
      • C. The Scrum framework
      • D. Other popular Agile project management methods
      • Is Lean project management an Agile framework?
      • E. Agile epics defined
      • F. Project manager best practices for choosing the right framework
      • G. Free Agile project management tools
    • Resources
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      • Agile Project Management
      • Basic Terminology
      • Methodologies
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      • Professional Development
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    1. Home
    2. Project Management Guide
    3. FAQ
    4. Advanced Terminology

    What is the Difference Between Change Management and Change Control?

    2 min readLAST UPDATED ON APR 3, 2026
    Artem Gurnov
    Artem Gurnov Director of Account Development, Wrike
    See Wrike for PMO

    What is the difference between change management and change control?

    Change management and change control are closely linked terms in project management but there is a notable difference between the two. 

    • Change control: This refers to the process of evaluating a change request within an organization and deciding if it should go ahead. An individual or team will be tasked with identifying and keeping track of changes throughout the project life cycle. They will assess all change requests and choose whether or not these requests are approved or denied. In general, the goal is to minimize change unless it is deemed necessary or beneficial. Change control is what enables teams to avoid the disruption that can occur due to a project change.
    • Change management: This is what happens after a period of transformation in an organization. If a change request has been approved, this change now has to be managed. In this situation, a project manager will oversee a change management team to ensure they are correctly implementing changes into their daily practices and that the project is not disrupted. 

    In a nutshell, change control is the decision to make a change, whereas change management refers to the aftermath of that decision.

    Why are change management and change control important?

    To quote Business Insider, “any company with an upward trajectory is going to be in a constant state of flux and change.” Change is inevitable, whether or not it is planned or unplanned. Project managers must be able to navigate any changes that come their way for two reasons:

    • If the change is positive, they need to take advantage of this and reap the potential benefits of embracing a transformation. Change control is important here as requests that will likely lead to success must be approved.
    • If the change is negative, this is where change management comes in. Project managers need to manage change quickly and effectively to ensure there is minimal risk and that the project stays on course to achieve its deliverables.

    Change control vs. change management

    When it comes to change management versus change control, you could argue that the former is more important than the latter. Change management is necessary for every project situation, whereas change control might not always factor in. This is most evident when unforeseen events occur and changes happen suddenly. 

    What’s more, in the field of Agile project management, changes are made quickly, and there may be no time for a formal process to approve them. There is also more focus on what the customer wants, so they are the ones who decide whether or not changes are made. 

    That said, change control can still be a hugely beneficial process. When done correctly, it can minimize the negative impacts of change and ensure a project stays on the right track. Therefore, the best-case scenario for successful project management is a combination of both change management and change control.

    Explore Wrike to find out how to control and manage change in your projects.

    Further Reading:

    • The Ultimate Guide to the Change Management Process
    • Top Tips for Change Request Management
    • Take Control of Your Project Plan Calendar
    Advanced Terminology 5 questions

    Change management in project management is the structured use of tools, processes, and leadership to manage how changes affect projects, teams, and stakeholders. It combines overseeing project work with supporting people through transitions, ensuring changes are understood, accepted, and adopted while minimizing disruption and helping projects achieve their intended goals successfully.

    Read the full article

    A cost-benefit analysis in project management compares a project’s expected benefits to its total costs to determine whether it’s worth pursuing. It gives teams a clear, data-backed view of a project’s financial viability by quantifying costs, forecasting benefits, and calculating metrics like ROI and NPV. This helps decision makers prioritize initiatives and allocate resources with confidence.

    Read the full article

    Cost control in project management is the process of monitoring and managing project expenses to make sure the work stays within budget. It includes tracking spending, planning for financial risks, and preparing for potential setbacks that could drive unexpected costs. Effective cost control helps teams avoid overruns, stay on schedule, and use resources more efficiently.

    Read the full article

    Cost management in project management requires estimating, budgeting, and controlling project expenses so that the work can stay financially on track. Teams can predict future costs, monitor spending throughout the project lifecycle, and compare planned versus actual costs to improve future budgeting. Effective cost management helps prevent overruns, reduce risk, and support better resource planning and long-term profitability.

    Read the full article

    Cost variance is a measure of a project’s financial performance that compares the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) with the actual cost of work performed (ACWP). It shows whether a project is over or under budget, helping teams track spending as the project progresses. A variance close to zero is ideal, though difficult to achieve in practice.

    Read the full article
    Basic Project Management
    • Project Charter
    • Project Management Stakeholders
    • What is a Project?
    • Work Breakdown Structure
    • Project Objectives
    • Project Baseline
    • Project Management Scheduling
    • Project Management Work Packages
    • Project Management Scope
    • Scope Creep
    Advanced Project Management
    • What is PERT?
    • S-Curve
    • Network Diagram
    • SMART
    • Risk Management
    • Cost Estimation
    • Feasibility Study
    • Monte Carlo Analysis
    • Project Integration
    • Cost Management
    PMI
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    • PDU
    • PMI Project Management
    • What To Do With Certification
    • Certification
    • Become Certified
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    • Best Certification
    Software Features
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    • Latest in Wrike Blog
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      • Document workflow management: Tips, examples, and software
      • Document workflow software: 10 reliable options
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