Share with me an occasion when you made a quick decision.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to make decisions quickly and effectively, a valuable skill in many workplace situations. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle pressure, your decision-making process, and the outcome of your decision. They want to see that you can think on your feet, weigh options rapidly, and make a sound decision even under tight time constraints. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you provide a structured and compelling response.

Answer

Situation: During my time as a project manager at XYZ Company, we were in the final stages of a product launch when our lead developer unexpectedly fell ill, leaving a critical bug unresolved.

Task: I was tasked with ensuring that the product launch proceeded as planned, without compromising on the quality or timeline.

Action: I quickly assessed the situation and realized that we needed immediate action to meet our deadlines. I called an emergency meeting with the remaining team members to reassign tasks. I decided to bring in a backup developer who had previously worked on similar projects to address the bug. Simultaneously, I delegated non-technical tasks to other team members to ensure that everything else continued smoothly.

Result: The backup developer successfully fixed the bug, and we were able to launch the product on time. The quick decision not only saved the project but also maintained our reputation for delivering quality products on schedule. The team appreciated the decisive action, and it reinforced the importance of having contingency plans in place.