PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
Your project is halfway through its schedule, and you are performing a variance analysis. You find that the cost performance index (CPI) is 0.85 and the schedule performance index (SPI) is 1.1. What is the MOST likely cause of this situation?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates see SPI > 1.0 and CPI < 1.0 and incorrectly assume a data error, rather than recognizing the realistic project management trade-off of overtime causing cost overruns while accelerating schedule.
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
✓
The team is working overtime to meet deadlines, resulting in higher labor costs
A CPI of 0.85 indicates that for every dollar spent, only $0.85 of earned value is being delivered, meaning the project is over budget. An SPI of 1.1 indicates the project is ahead of schedule (10% more work completed than planned). The most likely cause is that the team is working overtime to achieve the schedule gains, which increases labor costs (e.g., overtime pay rates) without a proportional increase in output, driving the cost overrun.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Scope has been reduced without corresponding cost reduction
Why it's wrong here
Scope reduction would likely improve CPI and SPI, not this pattern.
- ✗
There is a calculation error in the earned value data
Why it's wrong here
Assuming error without evidence is not the most likely cause.
- ✓
The team is working overtime to meet deadlines, resulting in higher labor costs
Why this is correct
Overtime can accelerate schedule but increases cost, explaining CPI <1 and SPI >1.
- ✗
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
CPI <1 indicates over budget, not under budget.
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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.