In a scenario where some machines become overloaded, what is the primary concern for critical tasks?

Resource contention is a primary concern for critical tasks in situations where some machines become overloaded. When a machine is overloaded, it indicates that the system is facing limitations in processing power, memory, or other essential resources. As a result, the available resources must be shared among all running tasks, leading to competition for these limited resources.

In the context of critical tasks, which are often time-sensitive or essential for operations, any delays or inefficiencies caused by resource contention can have significant repercussions. This could manifest as slower performance, increased response times, or even failures in completing important processes.

While other concerns, like delays in execution or failures to execute, may be consequences of resource contention, the underlying issue affecting critical tasks is the competition for resources. It's this contention that ultimately leads to the potential degradation of performance and reliability in executing those tasks. The option regarding automatic rerouting does not directly address the issues presented by machine overload and contention, as it implies an ability to navigate or alleviate the problem that may not be feasible under such conditions.