- A
Immediately add more resources to the task without analysis.
Why wrong: Adding resources without analysis may not be effective and could cause over-allocation.
- B
Inform the sponsor that the project will be delayed and request a new deadline.
Why wrong: The PM should first try to recover the schedule before accepting a delay.
- C
Reduce the scope of the project to compensate for the delay.
Why wrong: Scope reduction is a change that requires formal change control; it is not the first action to consider.
- D
Analyze the situation and apply schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast tracking.
The PM should evaluate options to compress the schedule and minimize the impact on the completion date.
Question 711 of 892
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
Your project is using a predictive lifecycle. A team member notices that a task on the critical path is taking longer than estimated, threatening the project completion date. What is the BEST action to take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 situation and apply schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast tracking.
Option D is correct because in a predictive lifecycle, when a critical path task runs late, the project manager must first analyze the impact and then apply schedule compression techniques like crashing (adding resources with cost-benefit analysis) or fast tracking (performing tasks in parallel) to recover the schedule without unauthorized scope changes or premature escalation.
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.
- ✗
Immediately add more resources to the task without analysis.
Why it's wrong here
Adding resources without analysis may not be effective and could cause over-allocation.
- ✗
Inform the sponsor that the project will be delayed and request a new deadline.
Why it's wrong here
The PM should first try to recover the schedule before accepting a delay.
- ✗
Reduce the scope of the project to compensate for the delay.
Why it's wrong here
Scope reduction is a change that requires formal change control; it is not the first action to consider.
- ✓
Analyze the situation and apply schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast tracking.
Why this is correct
The PM should evaluate options to compress the schedule and minimize the impact on the completion date.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" 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 choose 'add more resources' (Option A) without considering the need for analysis and the potential negative effects of crashing, such as increased cost and diminishing returns.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Crashing involves adding resources to critical path tasks while performing a cost-benefit analysis to ensure the cost of acceleration does not exceed the value of the time saved. Fast tracking involves re-sequencing tasks that were originally planned in series to be done in parallel, but it increases risk of rework. Both techniques require analyzing the critical path to identify which tasks offer the most schedule compression with the least risk and cost.
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 PMP 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.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Analyze the situation and apply schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast tracking. — Option D is correct because in a predictive lifecycle, when a critical path task runs late, the project manager must first analyze the impact and then apply schedule compression techniques like crashing (adding resources with cost-benefit analysis) or fast tracking (performing tasks in parallel) to recover the schedule without unauthorized scope changes or premature escalation.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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