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PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is using a schedule compression…
A project manager is using a schedule compression technique that adds resources to critical path activities to shorten the project duration. Which technique is being used, and what is its primary trade-off?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the confusion between crashing and fast-tracking, so candidates must remember that crashing adds resources (cost trade-off) while fast-tracking parallelizes activities (risk trade-off).
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
✓
Crashing; increases cost
Crashing is the schedule compression technique that adds resources to critical path activities to shorten duration, and its primary trade-off is increased cost due to additional labor, overtime, or expediting fees. It is used when schedule is more critical than budget.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Crashing; increases cost
Why this is correct
Crashing adds resources, such as extra staff or overtime, to critical path activities to compress the schedule. Its primary trade-off is increased cost, since added labour and coordination raise expenditure, directly satisfying the stem's requirement to name the technique and its trade-off.
- ✗
Fast-tracking; increases cost
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking overlaps activities instead of adding resources, so it fails the stem's resource-adding description, and its trade-off is rework risk rather than cost. It is tempting because both are compression techniques, but fast-tracking suits schedule reduction when budget is fixed and parallel work is feasible.
- ✗
Crashing; increases risk
Why it's wrong here
Crashing adds resources to critical path activities, matching the stem, but its primary trade-off is increased cost, not increased risk. It is tempting because risk does rise secondarily, yet the defining consequence of buying duration with additional labour or equipment is the added expenditure.
- ✗
Fast-tracking; increases risk
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking overlaps activities rather than adding resources, so it does not match the stem's resource-adding technique. It is tempting because it is a genuine schedule compression method whose trade-off is increased risk from parallel work, making it the correct choice when duration must shrink without extra budget.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.