What to Do When a Material Shortage Delays the Critical Path?
Your construction project is 60% complete. Due to a material shortage, the critical path extended by 10 days. You have float on some non-critical tasks. The sponsor is concerned about the project finishing on time. What should you do FIRST?
Quick Answer
The correct first step is to analyze the schedule for opportunities to crash or fast-track the remaining activities. This aligns with the PMI mindset of proactive schedule management: before escalating a critical path delay due to a material shortage, you must assess whether compression techniques can recover the lost time using existing resources and float. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Control Schedule process and the order of operations—specifically, that you evaluate internal options (crashing or fast-tracking) before requesting additional budget or scope changes. A common trap is jumping to escalate to the sponsor or immediately adding resources, but the correct sequence is always “analyze first, then act.” Remember the mnemonic “A-C-T” for delay recovery: Assess the schedule, Compress if possible, then Tell stakeholders.
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often pick B (immediately notify the sponsor) without first exploring schedule compression options, but PMI emphasizes proactive analysis before escalation.
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
✓
Analyze the schedule for opportunities to crash or fast-track the remaining activities
PMI's best practice is to first analyze whether schedule compression techniques (crash or fast-track) can recover the delay before informing the sponsor. Option D is incorrect because fast-tracking only applies to critical path activities and may not be feasible without analysis; also, it increases risk. Option A is reactive and skips analysis. Option B is premature because you haven't yet determined if compression is possible.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the budget to procure materials faster
Why it's wrong here
Budget changes require a change request; first assess schedule compression feasibility.
- ✗
Immediately notify the sponsor that the project will be delayed
Why it's wrong here
Escalating without analysis is not proactive; first explore schedule recovery options.
- ✓
Analyze the schedule for opportunities to crash or fast-track the remaining activities
Why this is correct
First step is to analyze the schedule and consider compression techniques; then communicate findings to sponsor.
- ✗
Fast-track the remaining critical path activities
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking may be appropriate, but first you need to assess the schedule and options.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PMP
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. Your construction project is 40% complete, and you have just learned that a key supplier will be unable to deliver critical steel beams for another six weeks due to a factory fire. The beams are on the critical path, and the project has zero float. The risk register had identified a potential supplier delay, with a planned response to use an alternative supplier. What should you do NEXT?
hard- A.Initiate a change request to adjust the schedule baseline
- B.Update the risk register and close the risk
- ✓ C.Implement the contingency plan to use the alternative supplier
- D.Escalate the issue to the project sponsor and request additional budget
Why C: The risk register already identified the supplier delay and planned a contingency response (use an alternative supplier). Since the risk has occurred, you must implement the contingency plan per the risk management plan. This is the immediate next step to mitigate the impact on the critical path with zero float.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.