In the world of project management and software delivery, estimates are more than just numbers—they are perceived as commitments, foundations for trust, and often the basis for critical business decisions. Yet, anyone who has worked in an organization with aggressive growth targets or ambitious transformation agendas knows the following scenario all too well: leadership arrives with a predefined budget or timeline, and suddenly, the estimation process becomes less about honest forecasting and more about making the numbers fit. This blog post explores the ethical dilemma of "adjusting" estimation models under executive pressure, the consequences for teams and organizations, and how to handle these situations with integrity.
blog post: ProjectManagement.com - Fabricating Estimates Under Executive Pressure: Navigating the Ethics of Adjusting to Fit the Budget
