What is the primary purpose of a project change management plan?

The primary purpose of a project change management plan is to handle changes effectively. This plan provides a structured approach for managing modifications to the project scope, schedule, resources, or other critical elements that may arise during the lifecycle of the project.

A well-crafted change management plan outlines the processes for identifying, documenting, assessing, and approving changes. This ensures that any alterations are handled systematically and transparently, which helps maintain project stability and reduces potential disruptions. By focusing on effective management of changes, the plan also facilitates clear communication among stakeholders about how changes will be addressed, thereby minimizing confusion and resistance.

The other options can be related to aspects of project management but do not directly encompass the key function of a change management plan. Defining project goals is crucial for setting the direction of the project but does not address how to manage changes. Communicating deadlines is important for project schedule management, yet it is not specifically related to change management. Minimizing project costs can be a consequence of effective change management but is not the primary purpose of a change management plan. Instead, the plan is fundamentally about enabling an organized response to changes as they occur.