The answer is that the resource is overworked due to excessive overtime. This conclusion is drawn directly from a resource histogram showing a single team member logging 12–14 hours daily over several weeks, paired with a declining productivity trend and rising defect rate—a textbook pattern of burnout caused by overallocation. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between resource overload (a systemic, ongoing issue) and isolated problems like estimation errors or scope creep; the histogram’s sustained overtime spike is the key clue. A common trap is blaming the schedule or a one-time change, but the consistent overwork signals a failure to level resources or address capacity. Memory tip: think “peak, dip, and repeat”—a histogram with a prolonged high bar followed by a productivity drop always points to burnout, not a temporary crunch.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Resource Name: John Doe
Role: Senior Developer
Allocation: 100% (40 hrs/week) to Project Alpha
Actual Hours (last 2 weeks): 55 hrs/week
Project Health: On schedule, but developer reports burnout
```
Based on the exhibit, what is the MOST likely cause of the resource issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Resource Name: John Doe
Role: Senior Developer
Allocation: 100% (40 hrs/week) to Project Alpha
Actual Hours (last 2 weeks): 55 hrs/week
Project Health: On schedule, but developer reports burnout
```
A
The resource estimation was inaccurate for the tasks.
Why wrong: No evidence of estimation error; allocation is 40 hrs but actual is 55 hrs.
B
Scope creep is causing additional unplanned work.
Why wrong: No mention of scope changes; could be rework or poor planning.
C
The project is behind schedule, forcing overtime.
Why wrong: Project is on schedule per exhibit.
D
The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime.
Actual hours exceed allocation by 15 hrs/week, causing burnout.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime.
The exhibit shows a single resource (e.g., a developer or engineer) consistently logging 12–14 hours per day over multiple weeks, with a corresponding drop in productivity and increase in defect rate. This pattern is a classic symptom of overwork and burnout, not a one-time estimation error or scope change. Option D is correct because the data directly indicates the resource is overworked due to excessive overtime, which is the root cause of the resource issue.
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.
✗
The resource estimation was inaccurate for the tasks.
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of estimation error; allocation is 40 hrs but actual is 55 hrs.
✗
Scope creep is causing additional unplanned work.
Why it's wrong here
No mention of scope changes; could be rework or poor planning.
✗
The project is behind schedule, forcing overtime.
Why it's wrong here
Project is on schedule per exhibit.
✓
The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime.
Why this is correct
Actual hours exceed allocation by 15 hrs/week, causing burnout.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
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 confuse the symptom (overtime) with the cause (being behind schedule or scope creep), but the exhibit’s consistent overtime with declining quality directly points to overwork as the primary issue, not a reactive response to schedule pressure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In resource management, the concept of 'diminishing returns' applies: after 8–10 hours of work per day, cognitive fatigue sets in, reducing output quality and increasing error rates. The exhibit’s trend of rising defects alongside rising hours is a textbook indicator of this phenomenon. Real-world studies (e.g., from the Project Management Institute) show that sustained overtime beyond 60 hours per week leads to a net decrease in productivity, making it a critical risk to monitor in resource planning.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime. — The exhibit shows a single resource (e.g., a developer or engineer) consistently logging 12–14 hours per day over multiple weeks, with a corresponding drop in productivity and increase in defect rate. This pattern is a classic symptom of overwork and burnout, not a one-time estimation error or scope change. Option D is correct because the data directly indicates the resource is overworked due to excessive overtime, which is the root cause of the resource issue.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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. Based on the resource histogram exhibit, what is the most likely impact on the project if no corrective action is taken?
hard
A.Scope creep will increase resource requirements.
B.The project will likely finish ahead of schedule.
✓ C.Team burnout and decreased productivity will likely cause delays.
D.The project will meet its schedule with overtime.
Why C: The resource histogram shows a significant overallocation of team members beyond their normal capacity for an extended period. Without corrective action such as leveling or adding resources, this sustained overwork leads to fatigue, reduced efficiency, and increased error rates, which typically cause schedule delays despite the initial appearance of progress.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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This PMP practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 PMP exam.
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