PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question
A project manager is creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Which technique is used to break down deliverables into smaller, manageable components?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the distinction between WBS creation techniques and estimation/scheduling techniques; the trap is selecting 'bottom-up estimating' or 'rolling wave planning' because they sound like breakdown methods, when only decomposition produces the WBS hierarchy.
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
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Decomposition
Decomposition is the technique used to break down project deliverables into smaller, more manageable components, ultimately producing work packages at the lowest level of the WBS. It involves subdividing scope and deliverables into progressively finer levels until the work can be estimated, scheduled, and assigned. This is the core technique of the Create WBS process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Decomposition
Why this is correct
Decomposition subdivides project deliverables into progressively smaller, manageable work packages, satisfying the WBS constraint of hierarchical breakdown. It is the specific technique that transforms top-level deliverables into assignable, estimable components at the lowest WBS level.
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Bottom-up estimating
Why it's wrong here
Bottom-up estimating aggregates cost or duration estimates from the lowest-level components upward; it consumes an existing decomposition rather than creating one. It is tempting because it also works at detailed component level, but it would be correct when deriving a total project estimate after the Work Breakdown Structure already exists.
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Precedence diagramming
Why it's wrong here
Precedence diagramming sequences activities and maps dependencies, producing a network diagram rather than decomposing scope. It is tempting because it also structures project work, but it would be the right technique when scheduling activities and identifying the critical path, not when breaking deliverables into manageable components.
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Rolling wave planning
Why it's wrong here
Rolling wave planning progressively elaborates work packages only for the near-term horizon, deferring detail for later phases. It is tempting because it also concerns decomposition, but it would be correct when detailed planning must be deferred, not when fully decomposing deliverables into manageable components during Work Breakdown Structure creation.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.