my manager are delusionally promoting and spending a project which has no value or use. millions have been spent and there is no use case or demand for it. when i try challenging, they start commenting on my capability and character. when anything fails, which it is bound to in many steps, they say its your fault. can someone please advise how to deal with such a psycho in EM speak? i do want to keep my job, but it ki-ls me inside to hage such a stupid egotistic manager. and fee others around them who just keep promoting an obviously failing, money down the drain project.
15 replies (most recent on top)
This email is spot on. It will put the "fear of God" into most managers if you have proof that they are "failing in their fiduciary responsibility" to the stockholders.
Send this
Subject: Urgent Request for Alignment: Project [Project Name] Business Value & Risk Mitigation
To: [Manager's Full Name]
CC: [Leave this blank for now, unless the risk is immediate, then include the Skip-Level Manager and/or HR Business Partner]
Date: October 29, 2025
Dear [Manager's Name],
Following our recent discussions on the project status, I have compiled a focused executive review concerning the current burn rate and forecasted business outcomes for Project [Project Name].
Given the significant investment of over $[X] Million to date, my professional duty necessitates a formal check against the original Business Value Proposition (BVP).
I need to urgently align on a critical path forward based on objective data:
Current Metrics vs. Target ROI: Our internal data currently shows a [Current Metric, e.g., 0.5%] adoption/demand against the Q4 target of [Target Metric, e.g., 10%]. This indicates a severe variance in the anticipated Return on Investment (ROI).
Use Case Validation: To date, we have not secured a single validated external use case demonstrating demand for the core functionality being developed. This suggests a fundamental flaw in market fit.
Risk Escalation: Continuing the current trajectory without a formal course correction represents an unacceptable Fiduciary Risk to the organization.
I am formally requesting a 30-minute Risk Review Session this week to collaboratively define concrete, measurable Go/No-Go Decision Criteria for the project moving into the next fiscal quarter.
My objective is to ensure we are mitigating the organization's exposure and directing capital toward value-generating initiatives.
Please advise on your availability for this critical alignment meeting.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
@jq, you’re just restating the premise that we are all trapped here in a decaying system. Exactly so. So now what do you do about it? Play the game? Quit and just maybe get something with comparable pay in an environment that is less toxic? Maybe so. Whatever you choose, just know that there are no hero’s in this story because the people above you don’t want a stink’n young hero upsetting the game that they have committed to.
Years ago I had a serious budget and controlled research guidance in one part of EMRE At first I was wined and dined by those running the game. Invited to every meeting and provided with a seat of honor and fat briefing books with my name on the cover. After a few cycles, I caught on to the state of play and asked questions. Those running the game simply pivoted to the next new guy with a budget and ghosted me. If you want to be part of the club, you play be the rules. .
In the 1990's, Mobil Research and Engineering employees were rewarded when they:
(1) demonstrated the ability to sunset bad ideas before spending $10 million on research only to put the bad idea on the shelf after 4 years of R&D
(2) looked outside for "me too" technology before reinventing the wheel internally.
When Exxon acquired Mobil, we were introduced to "Breakthrough Research" which Exxon classified as "high risk, high reward" research. When the Breakthrough Committee in Exxon Research and Engineering told the Breakthrough Manager that an idea was a "bad idea" before spending a dime on it, the Breakthrough Manager told the Committee that the President of EMRE who had a Finance background, that the President of EMRE liked the "bad idea". In order to sunset the idea, the Breakthrough Manager had to spend $10 million and study it for three years before going back to the President and telling him it was not economical. The Breakthrough Manager even said that it was a career limiting move for the Breakthrough Manager to tell the President and Vice President that the idea was "stupid" before spending a dime on R&D.
No Breakthrough funded intiative for 10+ years ever was commercialized.
@hd, no, not at all selling your soul. The crux of OP question was what moral obligation do we have to speak up to our own detriment when locked in a dishonest system. I contend that we are under no such obligation. The moral burden is on those who set up and sustain the system. Not the pawns who through no fault of their own find themselves locked into a decaying system. Don’t over think this; your moral duty is to your own family first.
@f7 intersting perspective, basically sell your soul
@f7 Actually solid advice.
I don’t understand the complaint. Someone higher up decided to give you a slice of the pie to work on something they deem to be important. Not your job to judge what’s important. The shareholders don’t give a cr-p about you so stop giving a cr-p about their interests. Your boss certainly knows the project is bogus. Shut up and enjoy your slice of the pie.
Don’t do it. Set up 1:1 with your boss and harsh it out
The performance assessment process is driving a high volume of low value add projects to put on PDSs. Play it smart… just smile tightly and nod. You have to ACT like you’re onboard. There is NO upside, nothing will be gained or change from speaking out against, but there is high downside risk to your rank, even if you’re right. Stay quiet abt the mgrs project, refocus that energy into coming up with own project. Unfortunately this is the game now.
I tried omce just lowered my rank by speaking the truth. Play the game or suffer.
Sounds just like the last 30 years at Clinton 😢😢 projects that never had a prayer , I miss Mr.Frosty 🍦
If the manager is really that bad, the problem will take care of itself. The manager will either be fired or promoted.
100% agree with first reply. Do nothing and smile. Nothing good will happen. You’ll just get sc--wed
No hope for you. If you complain you are toast . You will ne the next piped. Hr will not help. Don't do it. Take it from some one who spoke up and got fi c ked. Just smile and clap and cheer for the lunacy.