Question: Describe a time when you had a good plan to start with, but had to change the plan partway through the execution process.

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Describe a situation where you started off thinking that your approach was the best, but needed to alter your course during the implementation.

Follow-up questions:

What aspects made you alter your plan?
How prepared were you to make those changes?
What did you do about managing time and finishing the task in time even with those changes?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Basic – Science and Logic,Management of Time,Systems – Judgment and Decision Making

Abilities:

Cognitive – Flexibility of Closure (Pattern Detection),Cognitive – Originality,Cognitive – Perceptual Speed,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed)

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Agreeableness,Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit,Self-Awareness

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (for Problem Identification),Information Input – Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings,Interacting with Others – Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Work Context (Person-Job/Team/Org Fit):

Interpersonal Relationships – Relationship With Supervisor,Interpersonal Relationships – Responsibility for Outcomes and Results of Others,Job Structure – Level of Responsibility (Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Organization Results),Job Structure – Structured versus Unstructured Work

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Adaptability/Flexibility,Analytical Thinking,Handling Ambiguity,Initiative,Patience

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are looking for the candidate’s flexibility to make changes quickly.
You are looking for the candidate’s ability to work under pressure and efficiently produce results within agreed time frame.
If the candidate has good interpersonal relationship to communicate their changes to their supervisor or other team members who might be involved in this project.

Red Flags to Watch For:

From the narration, if it is evident that the candidate wasn’t ready to make those changes.
If the candidate has negative view about making changes halfway through the project.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: https://www.totaljobs.com/advice/most-common-competency-based-interview-questions