Question: Describe a time when you had to make a decision that was not under your area of responsibility. What happened and what was the result?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Have you ever faced a situation when you had to take a decision, which did not fall within in your area of responsibility? What decision did you make and how?

Follow-up questions:

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Basic – Science and Logic,Complex Problem Solving,Social – Service Orientation (Customer Service/Focus),Systems – Judgment and Decision Making,Systems Analysis,Systems Evaluation

Abilities:

Cognitive – Deductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Flexibility of Closure (Pattern Detection),Cognitive – Inductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Originality,Cognitive – Perceptual Speed

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Agreeableness,Candidate Preparedness,Personal Improvement (Growth),Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Gathering Information,Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Information Input – Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (for Problem Identification),Mental Processes – Analyzing Data or Information,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Evaluating Compliance with Standards,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems,Mental Processes – Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work,Mental Processes – Thinking Creatively (Creativity)

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

Interpersonal Relationships – Coordinate or Lead Others,Job Structure – Freedom to Make Decisions,Job Structure – Frequency of Decision Making,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,Attention to Detail,Independence,Initiative,Innovation,Integrity/Honesty/Ethics,Stress Tolerance

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

If the candidate is able to take responsibility and make decisions that meet their client’s needs.
If the candidate can make innovative decisions.
If the candidate uses interpersonal skills to seek help and advice to arrive at a decision that fits well.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the candidate sounds not quite responsible to take decisions from outside of their area.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: https://www.jobbankusa.com/interview_questions_answers/