Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Resource Histogram:

Week 1: 10 FTEs
Week 2: 15 FTEs
Week 3: 12 FTEs
Week 4: 8 FTEs

Total available FTEs per week: 12

Cost per FTE: $1000/week

Project budget: $50,000

Refer to the exhibit. The project manager notices that the resource histogram shows a peak of 15 FTEs in Week 2, exceeding the available 12 FTEs. The project manager needs to bring the resource usage within the limit without increasing the project duration or budget. Which action should the project manager take?

⚠ Common exam trap

PMI often tests the distinction between resource smoothing (which does not change duration) and resource leveling (which can extend duration), leading candidates to confuse the two or incorrectly assume that any resource adjustment must increase time or cost.

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

✓

Apply resource smoothing to delay some activities in Week 2 to earlier or later weeks

Resource smoothing is the correct technique because it adjusts the schedule of activities within their float to level the resource demand without changing the critical path or project duration. In this case, delaying some non-critical activities from Week 2 to earlier or later weeks reduces the peak from 15 FTEs to within the 12-FTE limit while keeping the project duration and budget unchanged.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Reduce the scope of work in Week 2
Why it's wrong here
Reducing scope changes the project deliverables and may not be acceptable.
✗
Crash the project by adding overtime in Week 2
Why it's wrong here
Crashing increases cost, exceeding budget.
✗
Add more resources to Week 2 to meet the demand
Why it's wrong here
Adding resources increases cost, exceeding budget.
✓
Apply resource smoothing to delay some activities in Week 2 to earlier or later weeks
Why this is correct
Resource smoothing adjusts activities within their float to keep resource usage within limits without affecting the critical path or duration.

Go deeper

CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Exhibit

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

Related to this question