hardMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: During project execution, a project manager…
During project execution, a project manager notices that team members are spending excessive time on non-essential tasks, and the project is falling behind schedule. Which tool should the project manager use first to identify the root cause of the delays?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a Pareto chart (which prioritizes known issues) with root cause analysis, failing to recognize that the fishbone diagram is the appropriate first step when the cause is unknown and no quantitative data exists.
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
✓
Fishbone diagram
The fishbone diagram (Ishikawa diagram) is the correct first tool because it is designed for root cause analysis, helping the project manager systematically brainstorm and categorize potential causes of delays (e.g., people, process, tools) before collecting data. Unlike other tools, it does not require pre-existing quantitative data, making it ideal for the initial investigative step when the root cause is unknown.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Gantt chart
Why it's wrong here
A Gantt chart displays schedule bars and dependencies, showing that tasks slipped but not why; it cannot surface root causes. It is tempting because Gantt charts are the standard tool for tracking progress against a timeline, which is the correct choice when only schedule status needs communicating.
- ✓
Fishbone diagram
Why this is correct
A fishbone diagram organises potential causes of the schedule slippage into categories such as people, process and environment, exposing the underlying root cause rather than symptoms. It directly addresses the stem's need to identify why team members are diverted onto non-essential tasks.
- ✗
Pareto chart
Why it's wrong here
A Pareto chart ranks causes by frequency, so it needs categorised defect or delay data already collected; here no such data exists yet, and it cannot surface why non-essential tasks consume time. It is tempting because it prioritises the vital few causes, and would be correct once delay reasons have been logged and categorised.
- ✗
RACI matrix
Why it's wrong here
A RACI matrix maps who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed for activities; it clarifies roles, not causes of delay. It is tempting because it exposes ownership gaps that let non-essential work persist, and it would be the right choice when the delay stems from unclear accountability rather than unidentified root causes.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every PK0-005 question from scratch — 954 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. 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.