- A
Immediately reduce the project scope to cut costs.
Why wrong: Reducing scope without change control is not appropriate; it must be formally requested.
- B
Apply resource leveling to optimize the use of resources and reduce overallocation.
Resource leveling can help control costs and improve efficiency.
- C
Implement fast tracking to compress the schedule by performing tasks in parallel.
Fast tracking can improve schedule performance, but may increase risk.
- D
Ask the team to work overtime at no additional cost.
Why wrong: Overtime may increase costs and cause burnout; it's not a recommended long-term solution.
- E
Conduct a root cause analysis to identify why the project is over budget and behind schedule.
Understanding the cause is essential for effective corrective action.
Quick Answer
The answer is to conduct a root cause analysis, implement fast tracking, and apply resource leveling to improve cost and schedule performance when CPI is 0.85 and SPI is 0.90. These three actions are correct because they directly address the underlying issues causing the project to be over budget and behind schedule: root cause analysis identifies why variances occurred, fast tracking compresses the schedule by performing activities in parallel without increasing cost, and resource leveling optimizes resource usage to prevent further cost overruns. On the PMP exam, this question tests your ability to apply corrective actions from the Control Costs and Control Schedule processes, often appearing as a scenario where you must distinguish proactive fixes from reactive or scope-altering options. A common trap is choosing overtime or crashing, which increase cost and worsen a low CPI. Memory tip: think "RCA, FT, RL" — Root Cause Analysis, Fast Tracking, Resource Leveling — to recall the three actions that fix both cost and schedule without adding budget.
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.
A project is in the execution phase and the project manager notices that the project's cost performance index (CPI) is 0.85 and the schedule performance index (SPI) is 0.90. The project sponsor is concerned and wants to get back on track. Which THREE actions should the project manager consider to improve performance?
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 leveling to optimize the use of resources and reduce overallocation.
To improve cost and schedule performance, the PM can implement fast tracking, analyze root causes, and use resource leveling to optimize resource usage. These are proactive and align with PMI best practices.
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 reduce the project scope to cut costs.
Why it's wrong here
Reducing scope without change control is not appropriate; it must be formally requested.
- ✓
Apply resource leveling to optimize the use of resources and reduce overallocation.
Why this is correct
Resource leveling can help control costs and improve efficiency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Implement fast tracking to compress the schedule by performing tasks in parallel.
Why this is correct
Fast tracking can improve schedule performance, but may increase risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ask the team to work overtime at no additional cost.
Why it's wrong here
Overtime may increase costs and cause burnout; it's not a recommended long-term solution.
- ✓
Conduct a root cause analysis to identify why the project is over budget and behind schedule.
Why this is correct
Understanding the cause is essential for effective corrective action.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: Apply resource leveling to optimize the use of resources and reduce overallocation. — To improve cost and schedule performance, the PM can implement fast tracking, analyze root causes, and use resource leveling to optimize resource usage. These are proactive and align with PMI best practices.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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