Although your project management skills are quite good, you do occasionally run into unforeseen circumstances that lead to less-than-ideal results. Halfway through the installation of a new resume scanning system, you realized that you underestimated the complexity of linking this new technology to the company's existing applicant tracking system. You now have the unpleasant task of explaining to your boss that the project will be coming in at least 20 percent over budget and possibly as high as 30 percent over. Which of the following is the best way to begin an e-mail message to your boss?
a. I messed up, big time. The resume scanning project is going to come in over budget.
b. The resume scanning project is going to come in at least 20 percent over budget and possibly as much as 30 percent over.
c. I recently discovered that linking the new resume scanner to our applicant tracking system was more complicated than anyone realized when we established the budget for this project. As a result of the extra work required to customize the software, the project is going to run 20 to 30 percent over budget.
d. I recently discovered that linking the new resume scanner to our applicant tracking system was more complicated than anyone realized when we established the budget for this project. The fact that there is extra work is not really my fault, per se, since it would've been necessary in any case, but as a result of the extra work required to customize the software, the project is going to run 20 to 30 percent over budget.