After which action should a project designer document change recommendations?

Documenting change recommendations should occur after collecting data. This process is crucial because it ensures that the recommendations are based on empirical evidence and insights gathered from the project's progress and performance metrics. By analyzing this data, the project designer can identify trends, issues, or opportunities for improvement, leading to well-informed change recommendations.

The act of collecting data provides a factual basis for understanding the impact of existing processes, resources, and any potential changes. This information is vital for not only rationalizing the change recommendations but also for communicating them effectively to stakeholders, who may require data-driven justification for any adjustments to the project plan.

While the other options may involve critical activities in change management, they do not provide the foundational analysis required to develop meaningful change recommendations. Escalating change controls, implementing changes, and tracking approval statuses typically occur at different stages of the change management process and do not inherently result in the formulation of new recommendations based on evidence.