Can you tell me about a time when you had incomplete information and you needed to make a quick decision? What did you do? What was the outcome?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly in situations where you do not have all the information you might ideally need. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle uncertainty and pressure, as well as your ability to make informed decisions quickly. This question also evaluates your ability to reflect on past experiences to extract lessons learned. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help structure your response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a team leader at XYZ Corp, I was once faced with a situation where we had to deliver a project update to a key client, but our data was incomplete due to a system outage.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure that the client received a timely and accurate update, even though I did not have all the information typically required for such a report.

Action: I quickly gathered the available data and consulted with my team to fill in any gaps with their insights and recent observations. I prioritized the key information that was most critical for the client's decision-making. Then, I communicated transparently with the client, explaining the situation and assuring them that we were actively working on resolving the issue. I also provided them with a provisional update based on the information at hand, while committing to deliver a comprehensive report once the system was fully restored.

Result: The client appreciated the proactive communication and transparency, and they were able to proceed with their decision-making with the provisional information provided. Additionally, this approach strengthened our relationship with the client, as they valued our honesty and reliability. My team and I also implemented a contingency plan to better handle similar situations in the future.