An approved change request refers to a change request that has been submitted by the requestors, has been reviewed by the appropriate parties through use of the integrated change control process, and has been granted authorization to be take place. Approved change requests can take place at many points throughout the project management process, and can range from very early stage points in the process (such as a request to substitute an alternate team member or an alternate location) or can be much later along (such as a request to alter the deliverables or a request to receive an extension to the deadline in which deliverables are scheduled to be completed). Also, it can vary by project, budgeting, and/or assigning party exactly what changes may be made without submission to the full integrated change control process, and which may be made without submission to this process. In some cases, minor changes may be made by the project leader without any further approval.
This term is defined in the 3rd and the 4th edition of the PMBOK.