- A
Mandate mandatory overtime for all team members
Why wrong: Overtime can lead to burnout and further quality issues; it's not a first step.
- B
Conduct a root cause analysis of the cost and schedule variances
Understanding the cause of variances is the first step to determining appropriate corrective actions.
- C
Request additional budget from the sponsor
Why wrong: Requesting more budget without analysis may not solve the underlying issues.
- D
Rebaseline the project schedule and budget
Why wrong: Rebaselining should only be done after approved changes; it is not a first step.
Question 124 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.
A project manager is reviewing the earned value report. The SPI is 0.85 and the CPI is 0.90. The project is behind schedule and over budget. Several team members are working overtime to catch up. What should the PM do FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Conduct a root cause analysis of the cost and schedule variances
The SPI of 0.85 and CPI of 0.90 indicate the project is both behind schedule and over budget. Before taking corrective action like requesting more budget or rebaselining, the PM must first understand why the variances occurred. Conducting a root cause analysis (B) aligns with the PMBOK's principle of analyzing performance data to identify the underlying issues, ensuring that any subsequent corrective or preventive actions are targeted and effective.
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.
- ✗
Mandate mandatory overtime for all team members
Why it's wrong here
Overtime can lead to burnout and further quality issues; it's not a first step.
- ✓
Conduct a root cause analysis of the cost and schedule variances
Why this is correct
Understanding the cause of variances is the first step to determining appropriate corrective actions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Request additional budget from the sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Requesting more budget without analysis may not solve the underlying issues.
- ✗
Rebaseline the project schedule and budget
Why it's wrong here
Rebaselining should only be done after approved changes; it is not a first step.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may jump to a corrective action like requesting more budget or rebaselining without first analyzing the variances, but the PMBOK emphasizes that the first step after identifying a variance is to analyze its cause to determine the appropriate response.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Earned Value Management (EVM) uses SPI and CPI to measure schedule and cost efficiency relative to the baseline. An SPI < 1.0 means less work completed than planned, while a CPI < 1.0 means higher costs for the work accomplished. Root cause analysis (RCA) techniques like the 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams help identify whether variances stem from technical issues, resource constraints, or inaccurate estimates, enabling the PM to choose the correct corrective action (e.g., crashing, fast-tracking, or re-estimating). In real-world scenarios, skipping RCA often leads to repeated variances because the same underlying problem persists.
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: Conduct a root cause analysis of the cost and schedule variances — The SPI of 0.85 and CPI of 0.90 indicate the project is both behind schedule and over budget. Before taking corrective action like requesting more budget or rebaselining, the PM must first understand why the variances occurred. Conducting a root cause analysis (B) aligns with the PMBOK's principle of analyzing performance data to identify the underlying issues, ensuring that any subsequent corrective or preventive actions are targeted and effective.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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