3 experts have described difficult decisions they had to take in one project.
Now think about what was important for them in taking the decision the took. Would they act differently in a different context? Why?
(If you are part of an ongoing PM bootcamp cohort on DEXA, also copy your comment to your group)
Reflecting on the difficult choices made by the project managers in the video, it is clear that their decisions were anchored by professional accountability and stakeholder protection. They had to weigh immediate project constraints, like tight budgets and aggressive timelines, against the long-term impact on end-user safety and organizational reputation. This commitment directly mirrors the APM core pillars of responsibility and honesty, where choosing transparent communication ultimately triumphs over an easy, temporary fix.
However, looking at whether these managers would act differently in a different context reveals how deeply our environment shapes our behavior. A project manager’s willingness to make a tough ethical call relies heavily on organizational culture and psychological safety; when an enterprise penalizes bad news, it creates intense pressure to hide flaws or cut corners out of self-preservation. Furthermore, the stakes of the project itself dictate the threshold for risk, meaning that a manager running a high-consequence infrastructure asset must maintain absolute safety margins, whereas someone managing a low-stakes internal marketing campaign might accept more calculated shortcuts. Finally, strict regulatory frameworks act as a protective shield for ethical choices, while weaker legal environments force a manager to rely entirely on their personal values to resist compromise. Ultimately, while our core principles should remain static, our actions are constantly being tested and redefined by the project environment around us
I don’t think they would have acted differently in a different context. As project managers, they were faced with a challenge and had to think of ways to handle the issue on ground. Applying that to everyday life, problems come, and at the end of the day, solutions have to come up. So, as problem solvers, they had to think of ways to tackle the issue at hand. And what was important for them was achieving the goal the organisation has set out to achieve, which they did by making the decision they made.
Being a project manager(pm) requires patience and empathy. The PM must always consider that team members have lives to live outside the project. Reaching a comprise that is satisfactory between both teams is as important as getting the team member(s) to commit to it voluntarily as opposed to it being forced is also very crucial as this might affect the quality of work being produced.
Making decisions as a project manager can be overwhelming at times.
But the consequences of any actions should be considered before any decision making.
As a project manager you shouldn’t be more concern about your own interest, but also the interest of the organization and the organization’s values.
I think dealing with difficult decisions in projects is not always easy because sometimes you have to choose between two important options. It may involve time, cost, quality, or people’s interests.
What I understand is that a good project manager has to stay calm, think carefully, and consider the impact of each decision before choosing. They also need to rely on facts, not emotions, and sometimes seek advice from others.
Difficult decisions can be stressful, but they are important because they affect the success of the project.
Decision-making can be very difficult at times but for theses experts
What was important for them was
1: They had the interest of the organization at heart and they understood well how the situation was before making their decisions.
2. They recognized their challenges and took necessary steps to over come it, by collaborating to make decisions.
I believe that if the problems comes in another context then they would do what is required for that particular context of problem and if these solutions is also what they will need to repeat as well them I believe they would not have acted differently
Decision-making for a Project Manager is largely based on a win-win principle, which often proves to be the most favourable. So, when making difficult decisions, a Project Manager must not only consider what’s easier but also what benefits all the parties involved. In many cases, decisions are arrived at after some compromises. This is often beneficial to all parties.
What was important for them was the fact that before cancelling the project it was agreed that it was not just an individual thing and they also weighed the pros and cons for both ends.
I don’t think they would act differently in a different context because so many thoughts were put in place before they canceled the first one