Pillar 3: Decision Readiness — Projects Don’t Die from Bad Calls, They Die from No Calls
By Ben Webb – Project Manager | Creator of Enabling Project Delivery
“A slow yes is often more damaging than a fast no.”
Every project manager knows the feeling.
You’ve flagged the issue.
You’ve written the briefing note.
You’ve escalated it twice.
You’re “waiting on a decision.”
And while you wait, scope creeps, timelines stretch, and team confidence evaporates.
Most project failures aren’t caused by terrible decisions.
They’re caused by no decisions at all.
Enabling Project Delivery (EPD) was built to fix that.
The Cost of Indecision
Indecision is invisible at first. It hides behind polite language:
“We’re still considering.”
“We’re giving it some thought.”
“Let’s hold off for now.”
“We’ll discuss it next week.”
But the damage is immediate and lasting:
Teams stall
Costs rise
Risks grow quietly
Leadership credibility drops
Stakeholder trust erodes
The project loses momentum — and never fully recovers
The longer a decision drags, the harder it is to make — and the more people get used to not making it.
What Decision Readiness Means in EPD
It’s simple: you’re either ready to make the call, or you’re not.
EPD doesn’t reward endless escalation or looped consultation.
It rewards decision-making that is:
✅ Timely
✅ Informed
✅ Purpose-aligned
✅ Owned by the right person
✅ Traceable
And if you’re not ready? EPD helps you get ready — fast.
How EPD Builds Decision-Making Capability
EPD doesn’t assume decisions will just “happen.” It builds decision readiness into the project structure.
🔹 Decision Registers
Not just task lists — actual decision logs:
What’s the decision?
Who owns it?
What data is needed?
When is it due?
What’s the risk of delay?
🟢 Result: Decisions are tracked, prioritised, and visible.
🔹 Decision Framing Templates
Briefings aren’t 10-slide decks. They’re one-pagers that answer:
What’s the issue?
What are the options?
What’s the recommendation?
What’s the risk of doing nothing?
🟢 Result: Leaders don’t get updates — they get calls to action.
🔹 Escalation Protocols
Escalation is expected — and structured:
Who gets notified?
What is required to escalate?
What’s the time limit?
Who owns the consequence?
🟢 Result: No more issues bouncing between inboxes.
🔹 “Default to Decide” Culture
If no one objects by a set date, a recommendation is enacted.
Silence isn’t safety — it’s passive failure.
🟢 Result: Projects move. Teams trust that decisions won’t get lost.
🔹 Retrospective Decision Reviews
Major decisions are reviewed after the fact:
What worked?
What could be faster next time?
What bias showed up?
🟢 Result: The system learns. Decisions get sharper over time.
What Decision Readiness Feels Like
In an EPD-enabled project:
You know which decisions are coming
You know who will make them
You trust the system to support the call
You don’t lose sleep over whether someone has done something
And most importantly:
You move forward — even when it’s hard.
What Happens Without It
Scope expands in the absence of decisions
Risk escalates quietly
Teams lose confidence
Rework becomes the norm
The project finishes late — and no one’s sure why
A Litmus Test
Ask yourself:
“What was the last three-week delay in this project really caused by?”
If the answer is, “waiting for someone to decide,” then you don’t have a planning problem.
You have a leadership and decision-readiness problem.
EPD fixes that — without politics, drama, or delay.
Coming Up Next
Pillar 4: Team Enablement — Delivery Is Done by People, Not Plans
We’ll explore how EPD empowers teams, removes blockers, protects focus, and makes sure your best people actually have the space to deliver.
About the Author
Ben Webb is an award-winning project manager and project leadership strategist, known for delivering clarity, structure, and results in high-stakes environments. He’s the creator of Enabling Project Delivery (EPD) — a values-led, behaviour-driven approach to modern project delivery.
📝 More insights at: www.benwebb.au
🎙️ Podcast & videos: YouTube @TheProjectPod
📱 Follow on X (Twitter): @BenWebbpm