If you took an unpopular decision, please tell me about it

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your decision-making skills, leadership capabilities, and how you handle opposition or conflict. The interviewer wants to understand how you evaluate situations, make tough decisions, and communicate with stakeholders, especially when your decisions aren't popular. They are looking for examples of critical thinking, resilience, and your ability to stand by your decisions while remaining open to feedback and collaboration.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I was overseeing a team working on a crucial product launch. The team was under significant pressure to meet tight deadlines, and there was a strong consensus to cut corners on quality assurance to deliver on time.

Task: As the project manager, my responsibility was to ensure the project was delivered on schedule without compromising the product's quality and reputation.

Action: After careful consideration, I decided to allocate additional resources and extend the timeline slightly to ensure thorough testing and quality assurance. I gathered data to support my decision and presented it to the team and stakeholders, explaining the potential risks of proceeding without proper QA.

Result: While initially, my decision faced resistance, as it was unpopular due to the increased pressure it placed on the timeline, the thorough testing phase uncovered critical issues that could have led to significant customer dissatisfaction. The end product was well-received, leading to positive feedback from clients and stakeholders, ultimately reinforcing the importance of quality in our process.

By using the STAR method, this answer illustrates the ability to make difficult decisions, justify them with data, and effectively communicate the rationale and benefits of those decisions, even when they are not popular.