PMI-SP Schedule Compression 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project manager needs to recover 3 weeks on a software project. After analyzing the schedule, she identifies that adding developers to the coding phase will reduce duration but increase cost. This is an example of which compression technique?
- Fast tracking
- Crashing (Correct answer)
- Resource leveling
- Schedule baselining
Correct answer: Crashing
Crashing involves adding resources (such as developers) to shorten schedule duration at increased cost.
Question 2: During fast tracking, which risk is MOST commonly introduced to the project schedule?
- Increased project cost
- Increased rework due to parallel activities (Correct answer)
- Reduced resource availability
- Scope creep from overlapping deliverables
Correct answer: Increased rework due to parallel activities
Fast tracking overlaps activities that were originally planned sequentially, which increases the risk of rework if upstream outputs change.
Question 3: A project manager is evaluating schedule compression options. The network diagram shows activity B has a finish-to-start dependency with activity A. Which action represents fast tracking?
- Assigning overtime to activity A workers
- Starting activity B before activity A is fully complete (Correct answer)
- Adding more workers to activity A
- Eliminating activity B from the schedule
Correct answer: Starting activity B before activity A is fully complete
Fast tracking means starting activity B before activity A finishes, effectively overlapping the two activities.
Question 4: When analyzing crash options, a project manager should focus resources on activities that are:
- On the critical path and have the lowest crash cost per unit time (Correct answer)
- On the critical path and have the highest total float
- Off the critical path with the most dependencies
- Off the critical path with the greatest duration
Correct answer: On the critical path and have the lowest crash cost per unit time
Crashing is most cost-effective when applied to critical path activities with the lowest crash cost per unit of time saved.
Question 5: A project team fast tracks two phases, causing the testing team to discover significant defects in code still being written. What is the MOST likely consequence?
- The project automatically returns to baseline
- Rework increases total project duration beyond the original schedule (Correct answer)
- Resource costs decrease due to parallel efficiency
- The critical path shifts permanently to testing
Correct answer: Rework increases total project duration beyond the original schedule
Rework caused by fast tracking can negate schedule gains and potentially extend the project beyond the original planned duration.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the crash cost slope for an activity?
- The ratio of total crashed duration to original duration
- The additional cost incurred per unit of time reduced (Correct answer)
- The percentage of float consumed by crashing
- The difference between baseline and compressed finish dates
Correct answer: The additional cost incurred per unit of time reduced
The crash cost slope is the additional cost per unit of time (e.g., per day) saved when crashing an activity.
Question 7: A sponsor demands a 10-day schedule reduction but authorizes no additional budget. The project manager should consider which compression option FIRST?
- Crashing critical path activities
- Fast tracking by overlapping sequential activities (Correct answer)
- Increasing scope to justify extending the deadline
- Adding mandatory overtime to all project resources
Correct answer: Fast tracking by overlapping sequential activities
Fast tracking does not inherently require additional budget, making it the first option to consider when budget is constrained.
PMI-SP Schedule Compression 2
A project manager needs to recover 3 weeks on a software project.
After analyzing the schedule, she identifies that adding developers to the coding phase will reduce duration but increase cost.
This is an example of which compression technique?