The answer is fast tracking and crashing. These are the two valid schedule compression techniques that can be applied without changing scope, as defined in the PMBOK Guide. Fast tracking involves performing activities in parallel that were originally planned to be sequential, which compresses the schedule by overlapping tasks, while crashing adds resources—such as overtime or additional staff—to critical path activities to reduce their duration. On the Project Management Professional PMP exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between scope-altering actions and legitimate compression methods; a common trap is confusing resource leveling, which often lengthens the schedule, with crashing. To remember, think of the mnemonic “Fast and Crash, never slash”—fast tracking and crashing keep scope intact, while slashing scope is a separate change control process.
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.
You are managing a project that is behind schedule. The project sponsor has asked you to explore schedule compression techniques. Which TWO options are valid schedule compression techniques that can be applied without changing scope? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities.
Option A (crashing) and Option C (fast tracking) are the two main schedule compression techniques. Crashing adds resources to critical path activities, and fast tracking performs activities in parallel. Option B (reducing scope) changes scope. Option D (resource leveling) often lengthens the schedule. Option E (adding contingency) increases time.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities.
Why this is correct
Crashing is a valid compression technique that adds resources to shorten duration.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Resource leveling: adjusting start and finish dates to address resource constraints.
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling often increases schedule duration.
✗
Adding contingency time to activities.
Why it's wrong here
Adding contingency increases the schedule, not compresses it.
✓
Fast tracking: performing activities in parallel that were originally sequential.
Why this is correct
Fast tracking compresses the schedule by overlapping activities.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PMP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities. — Option A (crashing) and Option C (fast tracking) are the two main schedule compression techniques. Crashing adds resources to critical path activities, and fast tracking performs activities in parallel. Option B (reducing scope) changes scope. Option D (resource leveling) often lengthens the schedule. Option E (adding contingency) increases time.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PMP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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