- A
Scope has been reduced without corresponding cost reduction
Why wrong: Scope reduction would likely improve CPI and SPI, not this pattern.
- B
There is a calculation error in the earned value data
Why wrong: Assuming error without evidence is not the most likely cause.
- C
The team is working overtime to meet deadlines, resulting in higher labor costs
Overtime can accelerate schedule but increases cost, explaining CPI <1 and SPI >1.
- D
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why wrong: CPI <1 indicates over budget, not under budget.
Question 456 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 halfway through its schedule, and you are performing a variance analysis. You find that the cost performance index (CPI) is 0.85 and the schedule performance index (SPI) is 1.1. What is the MOST likely cause of this situation?
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.
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
✓
The team is working overtime to meet deadlines, resulting in higher labor costs
A CPI of 0.85 indicates that for every dollar spent, only $0.85 of earned value is being delivered, meaning the project is over budget. An SPI of 1.1 indicates the project is ahead of schedule (10% more work completed than planned). The most likely cause is that the team is working overtime to achieve the schedule gains, which increases labor costs (e.g., overtime pay rates) without a proportional increase in output, driving the cost overrun.
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.
- ✗
Scope has been reduced without corresponding cost reduction
Why it's wrong here
Scope reduction would likely improve CPI and SPI, not this pattern.
- ✗
There is a calculation error in the earned value data
Why it's wrong here
Assuming error without evidence is not the most likely cause.
- ✓
The team is working overtime to meet deadlines, resulting in higher labor costs
Why this is correct
Overtime can accelerate schedule but increases cost, explaining CPI <1 and SPI >1.
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.
- ✗
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
CPI <1 indicates over budget, not under budget.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see SPI > 1.0 and CPI < 1.0 and incorrectly assume a data error, rather than recognizing the realistic project management trade-off of overtime causing cost overruns while accelerating schedule.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In earned value management (EVM), CPI = EV/AC and SPI = EV/PV. Overtime directly increases AC (actual cost) due to premium pay rates (e.g., 1.5x or 2x base rate), while EV (value of work performed) may increase linearly with extra hours but at a lower efficiency due to fatigue, resulting in CPI < 1.0. The SPI > 1.0 confirms the schedule gain from the extra hours. This scenario is a classic 'crashing' trade-off where cost increases to compress the schedule.
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: The team is working overtime to meet deadlines, resulting in higher labor costs — A CPI of 0.85 indicates that for every dollar spent, only $0.85 of earned value is being delivered, meaning the project is over budget. An SPI of 1.1 indicates the project is ahead of schedule (10% more work completed than planned). The most likely cause is that the team is working overtime to achieve the schedule gains, which increases labor costs (e.g., overtime pay rates) without a proportional increase in output, driving the cost overrun.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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