Real-Life Decision Making
You've been working with a public agency for several years. You estimate and often win the contracts for construction around the city.
A few months ago, the agency called you to bid on a new project. You immediately accepted the invitation to bid. The project will help your community by providing a teen center and recreation area.
You went out to look at the construction site and reviewed the plans. As you worked up the estimate, you discovered there was no way you could complete the project within the budget the agency had predicted. You tried several times over the months to convince the project manager from the agency that it couldn't be done.
Each time you talked, the project manager insisted that it could be done. He refused to see the details you were trying to explain to him. He asked you to finish the bid and submit it. You knew that the bid would not open if all the estimates were below the projected costs. Still, you prepared and submitted the bid.
Yesterday, the project manager called you. All the bids he received were higher than the projected budget for the project. Since yours was the lowest, he asks you to lower your estimate. He still refuses to see why lowering your bid is not an acceptable option.
You understand his problem. But if you lower your bid, your company will not make any profits on the job, and you risk losing your career. On the other hand, this project was one you really wanted to see completed because of its importance to your community.
What do you do?