A Change Advisory Board (CAB) is responsible for assessing, authorizing, and scheduling changes to the IT environment. To make an informed decision, the CAB requires a formal proposal that outlines the proposed solution, implementation steps, potential risks, and a backout plan. This comprehensive proposal is created during the "Establish a plan of action" step of the troubleshooting methodology. The preceding steps—identifying the problem, forming a theory, and testing it—provide the necessary justification and root cause analysis that feed into this plan, but the plan itself is the actionable document the CAB reviews.

A. Identify the problem.

This step only defines the symptoms and scope of the issue. It does not provide a proposed solution for the CAB to evaluate or approve.

B. Develop a theory of probable cause.

This is a hypothesis about the problem's origin. A CAB makes decisions based on confirmed causes and concrete plans, not on unverified theories.

C. Test the theory to determine cause.

This step confirms the root cause of the problem. While this information is crucial, it is not the complete package; the CAB needs the proposed solution and implementation plan.

1. CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Exam Objectives

Section 5.2

"Given a scenario

use the appropriate network troubleshooting methodology." This official document outlines the six-step process. Step 4

"Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects

" directly corresponds to creating the detailed proposal required for change management review.

2. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Framework

as described in university IT Service Management (ITSM) courseware. For example

materials on ITIL Change Enablement (formerly Change Management) specify that a formal Request for Change (RFC) is submitted to the CAB for approval. This RFC must contain a detailed plan of action

justification

risk assessment

and a backout plan. (See: University of Washington

ITIL v4 Foundation Courseware

"Change Enablement Practice

" Section 4.2

"Change Authority and the CAB").

3. Kim

D.

& Solomon

M. G. (2021). Mike Meyers' CompTIA Network+ Certification Passport

Seventh Edition (Exam N10-008). McGraw-Hill. Chapter 14

"Network Troubleshooting

" details the CompTIA troubleshooting model. It explains that establishing a plan of action involves creating a step-by-step procedure for the fix

which is a prerequisite for submitting a change request to a change management team. (Note: While this is a commercial book

its content directly reflects and explains the official CompTIA objectives

which are the primary source). The principles are identical for N10-009.