- A
Apply resource leveling to resolve the resource conflict and optimize the schedule
Resource leveling adjusts the schedule to address resource constraints and reduces idle time.
- B
Rebaseline the schedule to reflect the current progress
Why wrong: Rebaselining is not a corrective action; it should only be done after approved changes.
- C
Fast track the schedule by performing tasks in parallel
Why wrong: Fast tracking increases risk and may not resolve the resource idle issue.
- D
Crash the schedule by adding resources to critical path tasks
Why wrong: Crashing may be effective but does not address the idle resources due to dependency conflicts.
Question 73 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 approach. The schedule baseline shows that the project should be 50% complete by now, but only 40% of the work is done. The critical path has been impacted. Several team members are idle because of a dependency conflict. What is the BEST scheduling technique to address this?
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 resolve the resource conflict and optimize the schedule
Resource leveling is the best technique because the project has idle team members due to a dependency conflict, which is a resource constraint. By adjusting the schedule to resolve the conflict, you can reallocate resources to critical path tasks and optimize the overall schedule without necessarily adding resources or changing the baseline. This directly addresses the root cause of the delay—resource contention—rather than just compressing the schedule.
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.
- ✓
Apply resource leveling to resolve the resource conflict and optimize the schedule
Why this is correct
Resource leveling adjusts the schedule to address resource constraints and reduces idle time.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Rebaseline the schedule to reflect the current progress
Why it's wrong here
Rebaselining is not a corrective action; it should only be done after approved changes.
- ✗
Fast track the schedule by performing tasks in parallel
Why it's wrong here
Fast tracking increases risk and may not resolve the resource idle issue.
- ✗
Crash the schedule by adding resources to critical path tasks
Why it's wrong here
Crashing may be effective but does not address the idle resources due to dependency conflicts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse resource leveling with crashing or fast tracking, but the key clue is 'idle team members because of a dependency conflict'—this indicates a resource constraint, not a need for schedule compression.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Resource leveling is a schedule optimization technique that adjusts start and finish dates based on resource constraints, often extending the project duration to resolve overallocation or conflicts. In predictive (waterfall) projects, it is applied after the critical path is identified, and it can shift non-critical tasks to free up resources for critical path work. A real-world scenario is when a shared specialist (e.g., a network engineer) is needed for two parallel tasks but can only work on one at a time; leveling would sequence those tasks to eliminate idle time.
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.
Visual reference
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.
- →
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Process — Managing Technical Aspects practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PMP questions
892 questions across all exam domains
- →
Project Management Professional PMP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PMP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PMP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
People — Leading Projects practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to People — Leading Projects.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Process — Managing Technical Aspects.
Business Environment — Strategy and Value practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Business Environment — Strategy and Value.
Business Environment: strategy and project benefits practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Business Environment: strategy and project benefits.
PMP fundamentals practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP fundamentals.
PMP scenario practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP scenario.
PMP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PMP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 resolve the resource conflict and optimize the schedule — Resource leveling is the best technique because the project has idle team members due to a dependency conflict, which is a resource constraint. By adjusting the schedule to resolve the conflict, you can reallocate resources to critical path tasks and optimize the overall schedule without necessarily adding resources or changing the baseline. This directly addresses the root cause of the delay—resource contention—rather than just compressing the schedule.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More PMP practice questions
- During a sprint review, the product owner rejects a completed user story because it does not meet the acceptance criteri…
- During a daily standup, a developer mentions she is blocked by a dependency from another team. The issue was not previou…
- A project manager is leading a digital transformation initiative. Midway through the project, a new regulation is introd…
- Your project is a large infrastructure build. You have completed the planning phase, but the sponsor has put pressure on…
- You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner reque…
- Your agile project has been experiencing declining velocity over the last three sprints. During the retrospective, the t…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.