easyMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is assigned to a new project…
A project manager is assigned to a new project that has a tight deadline. The sponsor wants to fast-track the project by overlapping some phases. Which project management concept should the PM be most concerned about regarding this approach?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between fast-tracking (overlapping phases) and crashing (adding resources), and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly focus on cost or duration rather than the core risk of rework from incomplete predecessor deliverables.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Risk of rework due to incomplete deliverables from previous phases.
Fast-tracking involves overlapping project phases that would normally be sequential. The primary risk is that work on a later phase begins before the deliverables from the previous phase are fully complete and verified. This increases the probability of rework if the earlier deliverables contain errors or require changes, which can negate any time savings and introduce schedule instability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Longer overall project duration.
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking compresses the schedule by overlapping phases, so duration typically shortens rather than lengthens. It is tempting because crashing adds resources and can extend timelines, and dependencies may cause rework — but the concept the PM must weigh when overlapping phases is the increased risk of errors from parallel work, not longer duration.
- ✓
Risk of rework due to incomplete deliverables from previous phases.
Why this is correct
Overlapping phases via fast-tracking compresses the schedule by starting successor work before predecessors finish, so incomplete deliverables feed forward and defects surface late, forcing rework. This directly addresses the tight-deadline constraint by exposing the schedule-compression trade-off the PM must manage.
- ✗
Increased cost of additional resources.
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking overlaps existing phases without necessarily adding resources; crashing is the technique that increases cost by adding resources. It is tempting because compressing schedules often raises expenditure, but the specific concern when phases run in parallel is rework and risk from unresolved dependencies, not resource cost.
- ✗
Reduced quality of final product.
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking primarily raises the risk of rework and missed dependencies when phases overlap; quality impact is a secondary consequence, whereas the direct concern is increased project risk. It is tempting because compressed schedules can pressure testing, but the concept the PM must manage when overlapping phases is risk exposure, not guaranteed quality reduction.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 954 original PK0-005 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.