The Cost of Getting Things Wrong: Why Early Decisions Matter More Than We Think

Last week, PMI Manitoba proudly co-hosted Tech Thursday, Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates, bringing together project leaders, business analysts, consultants, and technology professionals for an evening of candid conversation and practical insight.

Held at the iconic King’s Head Pub on February 12, 2026, the session titled “The Cost of Getting Things Wrong: Early Decisions That Make or Break Projects” explored a theme that resonates across industries: how the earliest assumptions, trade-offs, and framing decisions can determine the ultimate success or failure of a project.

Why Early Decisions Carry the Greatest Weight

Projects rarely fail because of poor execution alone. More often, they struggle due to misaligned assumptions, incomplete discovery, unclear problem definitions, or early compromises that quietly compound over time.

From the outset, the panel challenged attendees to rethink a common narrative: that course corrections later in a project can easily fix early missteps. In reality, the cost of change grows exponentially as projects progress. A missed requirement, an underestimated risk, or an unchecked assumption in the initiation phase can ripple into budget overruns, scope creep, stakeholder dissatisfaction, and rework months or years down the line.

The message was clear: the earlier we think critically, the less we pay later.

A Powerful Panel of Perspectives

The discussion featured a diverse and experienced panel:

• Dean Zarrillo, CMC, PMP, Senior Business Consultant at CGI
• Vincent Turski, President of IIBA Winnipeg
• Sheilah Lee Restall, Senior Business Consultant at CGI

Moderated by Abilash Janakiraman, Director of Professional Development at PMI Manitoba, the conversation flowed seamlessly between strategic insight and practical application.

Each speaker brought a unique lens to the discussion of strategy, business analysis, enterprise transformation, and execution discipline demonstrating how early clarity requires cross-functional collaboration, not siloed thinking.

Assumptions, Trade-offs, and the “Invisible” Decisions

One of the most compelling themes of the evening was the idea that many project-defining decisions are made implicitly rather than explicitly.

When timelines are tight, stakeholders are eager, and momentum builds quickly, teams often make trade-offs around scope, stakeholder engagement, or requirements depth without fully articulating the risks. Those “invisible decisions” become embedded in the project foundation.

The panel emphasized the importance of:

• Structured discovery before solutioning
• Getting to know 5 whys
• Clear articulation of assumptions
• Engaging the right stakeholders early
• Aligning on problem definition before execution
• Creating space for healthy challenge and critical thinking

In short, slowing down at the beginning is often the fastest path to sustainable success.

The Intersection of Business Analysis and Project Management

A key highlight was the strong alignment between business analysis and project management disciplines. The collaboration between PMI Manitoba and IIBA Winnipeg reflected the event’s core message: successful outcomes depend on shared ownership of clarity.

Business analysts help define the “what” and the “why.” Project managers steward the “how” and the “when.” When these perspectives converge early, projects are positioned not just to deliver outputs but to achieve outcomes.

Professional Growth and Continuous Learning

Beyond the rich discussion, the event also reinforced PMI Manitoba’s commitment to professional development. PMP-certified members were eligible to earn 1 Professional Development Unit (PDU) for attending the event, as an added benefit,  underscoring the importance of ongoing learning in a rapidly evolving landscape.

But perhaps the greatest value was the open dialogue itself. Events like Tech Thursday create space for professionals to exchange lessons learned, share real-world experiences, and challenge conventional thinking in an environment that is both collaborative and practical.

A Strong Community Conversation

The setting at King’s Head Pub provided an energetic and welcoming atmosphere, encouraging meaningful networking before and after the session. Conversations continued well beyond the formal discussion, a testament to how deeply the topic resonated with attendees.

Early decisions are not just technical checkpoints they are leadership moments. They require courage to ask hard questions, discipline to validate assumptions, and collaboration to ensure diverse perspectives are heard.

As the evening concluded, one takeaway stood above the rest:

Getting things right at the beginning isn’t about perfection, it’s about intentionality.

PMI Manitoba is proud to co-host conversations that elevate the profession and strengthen our project community. We look forward to continuing these thought-provoking discussions in future events.

 

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     Article written by Shubha Junaid

    Managing Editor – News Desk, PMI Manitoba

    Photos by Seun Adeleye - PMI Manitoba

 

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