The correct answer is to evaluate the schedule to see if crashing or fast-tracking can recover the delay, then order the correct switches. This is the right move because project management best practice dictates that when a vendor error causes a schedule delay, you first attempt schedule compression techniques—crashing, which adds resources to critical path tasks, or fast-tracking, which runs normally sequential tasks in parallel—before accepting a slip. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply the "evaluate before escalate" principle, especially when contingency reserves are available to fund compression. A common trap is to immediately order the switches and accept the delay, but the exam wants you to proactively recover the schedule first. Memory tip: think "Crash or Track before you fall back"—always try to compress the schedule before accepting a delay.
PK0-005 Project Management Concepts Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project management concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are managing a network upgrade project for a large corporation. The project involves replacing outdated switches and routers across three data centers. During the execution phase, you discover that one of the key vendors has shipped the wrong model of switches for Data Center B. The correct switches have a lead time of four weeks, which will delay the project by three weeks. The project sponsor is pressuring you to meet the original deadline. The project budget has some contingency reserves. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Evaluate the schedule to see if crashing or fast-tracking can recover the delay, then order the correct switches.
Option D is correct because it aligns with the project management principle of first attempting to recover the schedule using techniques like crashing (adding resources) or fast-tracking (performing tasks in parallel) before accepting a delay. Since the project has contingency reserves, you can potentially expedite the correct switch delivery or re-sequence tasks to absorb the three-week delay, preserving the original deadline. Ordering the correct switches immediately is necessary, but you must first evaluate if schedule compression can offset the impact, making D the most proactive and effective response.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Order the correct switches immediately and accept the three-week delay.
Why it's wrong here
Accepting the delay without attempting recovery is not optimal.
✗
Escalate to the sponsor and ask for a deadline extension.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation without a mitigation plan is not the first step.
✗
Use the wrong switches in Data Center B and plan to replace them later.
Why it's wrong here
Using wrong equipment may cause compatibility issues and rework.
✓
Evaluate the schedule to see if crashing or fast-tracking can recover the delay, then order the correct switches.
Why this is correct
This approach seeks to minimize delay while addressing the issue.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A (accepting the delay) because they think it's the 'safe' choice, but the exam expects you to demonstrate proactive schedule management by first attempting recovery techniques before escalating or accepting delays.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Crashing involves adding overtime or expediting shipping (e.g., paying for overnight delivery of the correct switches), while fast-tracking might allow you to begin configuration and testing of other data centers in parallel with the delayed Data Center B. In a real-world scenario, you could also negotiate with the vendor to drop-ship the correct switches directly to the site while returning the wrong ones, using the contingency budget to cover expedited fees. This approach requires careful critical path analysis to ensure that compressing the schedule does not introduce new risks, such as quality issues from rushed installations.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Evaluate the schedule to see if crashing or fast-tracking can recover the delay, then order the correct switches. — Option D is correct because it aligns with the project management principle of first attempting to recover the schedule using techniques like crashing (adding resources) or fast-tracking (performing tasks in parallel) before accepting a delay. Since the project has contingency reserves, you can potentially expedite the correct switch delivery or re-sequence tasks to absorb the three-week delay, preserving the original deadline. Ordering the correct switches immediately is necessary, but you must first evaluate if schedule compression can offset the impact, making D the most proactive and effective response.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A project manager is leading a construction project. The project sponsor has requested that the project be completed one month earlier than originally planned. Which THREE actions should the project manager take to assess the feasibility of this request? (Choose three.)
hard
✓ A.Evaluate schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast-tracking.
✓ B.Analyze the critical path to identify activities that can be compressed.
C.Increase the project scope to justify the shorter timeline.
✓ D.Assess resource availability and the possibility of adding more resources.
E.Reduce the quality standards to speed up work.
Why A: Option A is correct because schedule compression techniques like crashing (adding resources) or fast-tracking (performing tasks in parallel) are standard methods to shorten a project's duration without changing scope. The project manager should evaluate these to determine if the one-month acceleration is technically feasible given the project's constraints.
Variation 2. A project manager is reviewing the project's critical path. Two tasks on the critical path have float of zero, and a third task has a float of three days. The sponsor asks to compress the schedule by two days. Which action should the PM take?
hard
A.Apply fast-tracking to the task with three days of float.
✓ B.Apply crashing only to tasks on the critical path with zero float.
C.Reduce the scope of tasks with the largest float.
D.Add resources to all tasks on the critical path.
Why B: Option B is correct because schedule compression must focus on the critical path to reduce project duration. Tasks with zero float are on the critical path, so crashing them (adding resources or overtime) can directly shorten the schedule. The task with three days of float is not on the critical path, so compressing it would not reduce overall project duration.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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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.
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