Best Schedule Compression Technique When Budget Is Available
Your project is behind schedule, and you need to compress the schedule. The critical path has been identified. What is the BEST schedule compression technique to use if you have additional budget available?
Quick Answer
The answer is crashing. Crashing is the best schedule compression technique when additional budget is available because it focuses on adding resources—such as overtime, extra staff, or specialized equipment—directly to critical path activities to reduce overall project duration. Unlike fast tracking, which runs tasks in parallel and risks rework, crashing trades cost for time and is explicitly designed for scenarios where budget constraints are not the primary limitation. On the PMP exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between schedule compression methods under specific constraints; a common trap is confusing crashing with fast tracking or assuming resource leveling can shorten the schedule. Remember the memory tip: “Crash the critical path with cash”—if you have budget, you crash.
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse fast tracking with crashing, thinking both compress the schedule, but fast tracking increases risk while crashing increases cost—and the question explicitly provides additional budget, making crashing the clear choice.
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
✓
Crashing
Crashing is the correct technique because it involves adding resources (e.g., overtime, additional staff, or expedited shipping) to critical path activities to compress the schedule, and the question explicitly states additional budget is available. Unlike fast tracking, crashing does not increase risk but does increase cost, making it the best choice when budget is not a constraint.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Fast tracking
Why it's wrong here
Fast tracking overlaps activities that would otherwise run sequentially, which increases risk and rework and does not consume additional budget. It is tempting because it compresses duration without added cost, making it correct when budget is constrained but schedule risk is acceptable.
- ✓
Crashing
Why this is correct
Crashing adds resources to critical path activities to shorten duration, and it directly consumes the additional budget the stem makes available. Unlike fast tracking, it introduces no added rework risk from parallel activities, making it the best fit for this constraint.
- ✗
Resource smoothing
Why it's wrong here
Resource smoothing adjusts activities within their float to flatten resource demand without extending the critical path, so it cannot shorten a delayed schedule. It is tempting because it optimises resource usage on non-critical work, which is the right choice when resources are over-allocated but the deadline is fixed.
- ✗
Resource leveling
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling resolves over-allocation by delaying activities, which typically extends the schedule duration rather than compressing it. It is tempting because it addresses resource constraints, and would be correct when resource availability, not the deadline, is the binding limitation.
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Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Your project is running behind schedule. You need to compress the schedule without significantly increasing cost. Which TWO techniques should you consider?
medium- ✓ A.Add resources from non-critical path activities to critical path tasks
- ✓ B.Fast-track activities by performing them in parallel
- C.Eliminate non-essential deliverables without approval
- D.Reduce quality standards to save time
- E.Reduce project scope without change control
Why A: Adding resources from non-critical path activities to critical path tasks is a form of resource leveling or resource optimization that can compress the schedule without significant cost increase, as it reallocates existing resources rather than hiring new ones. Option B is correct because fast-tracking involves performing activities in parallel that were originally planned sequentially, which can reduce the project duration without adding costs, though it may increase risk.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.