This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Resource Name: John Doe
Role: Senior Developer
Allocation: 100% (40 hrs/week) to Project Alpha
Actual Hours (last 2 weeks): 55 hrs/week
Project Health: On schedule, but developer reports burnout
```
Based on the exhibit, what is the MOST likely cause of the resource issue?
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Resource Name: John Doe
Role: Senior Developer
Allocation: 100% (40 hrs/week) to Project Alpha
Actual Hours (last 2 weeks): 55 hrs/week
Project Health: On schedule, but developer reports burnout
```
A
The resource estimation was inaccurate for the tasks.
Why wrong: No evidence of estimation error; allocation is 40 hrs but actual is 55 hrs.
B
Scope creep is causing additional unplanned work.
Why wrong: No mention of scope changes; could be rework or poor planning.
C
The project is behind schedule, forcing overtime.
Why wrong: Project is on schedule per exhibit.
D
The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime.
Actual hours exceed allocation by 15 hrs/week, causing burnout.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime.
The exhibit shows a consistent pattern of the resource working excessive overtime hours over an extended period, leading to diminishing productivity and increased errors. This is a classic sign of overwork and burnout, not a one-time estimation inaccuracy (A) or unplanned scope changes (B). While being behind schedule (C) might cause overtime, the persistent overtime with declining quality indicates overwork as the primary cause rather than a reactive response to schedule pressure. Therefore, D is correct.
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.
✗
The resource estimation was inaccurate for the tasks.
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of estimation error; allocation is 40 hrs but actual is 55 hrs.
✗
Scope creep is causing additional unplanned work.
Why it's wrong here
No mention of scope changes; could be rework or poor planning.
✗
The project is behind schedule, forcing overtime.
Why it's wrong here
Project is on schedule per exhibit.
✓
The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime.
Why this is correct
Actual hours exceed allocation by 15 hrs/week, causing burnout.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may attribute the overtime to schedule pressure or scope creep, but the data in the exhibit shows prolonged overtime with declining performance, directly pointing to overwork as the root cause, not just a symptom of being behind.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In resource management, the concept of 'diminishing returns' applies: after 8–10 hours of work per day, cognitive fatigue sets in, reducing output quality and increasing error rates. The exhibit’s trend of rising defects alongside rising hours is a textbook indicator of this phenomenon. Real-world studies (e.g., from the Project Management Institute) show that sustained overtime beyond 60 hours per week leads to a net decrease in productivity, making it a critical risk to monitor in resource planning.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The resource is overworked due to excessive overtime. — The exhibit shows a consistent pattern of the resource working excessive overtime hours over an extended period, leading to diminishing productivity and increased errors. This is a classic sign of overwork and burnout, not a one-time estimation inaccuracy (A) or unplanned scope changes (B). While being behind schedule (C) might cause overtime, the persistent overtime with declining quality indicates overwork as the primary cause rather than a reactive response to schedule pressure. Therefore, D is correct.
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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