Undercommit

To allocate or pledge fewer resources, time, effort, or funds than are necessary or appropriate for a given task, project, or obligation. This can result in a failure to achieve desired outcomes or fulfill responsibilities adequately. Undercommitting often reflects a lack of understanding of the scope of a task, a reluctance to take on risk, or a strategic decision to prioritize other activities.

Undercommit meaning with examples

• The project manager was criticized for **undercommitting** resources to the marketing campaign. Initially, only a small budget was allocated to social media and influencer outreach. This lack of investment in promotion meant the project was not exposed to a wide audience, resulting in underperformance and missed sales targets, which ultimately affected the company's ROI.
• Faced with tight deadlines, the team leaders chose to undercommit to their goals at the beginning of the sprint. They decided to only implement a few crucial features of the software, leaving out many important additions. This meant the project, although completed on time, was deemed deficient and did not fully satisfy client demands.
• The non-profit organization, concerned about fundraising targets, chose to undercommit volunteers to its annual gala. They thought it would be an easy task but they soon realized that they couldn't deal with the influx of guests. The event suffered due to the lack of support staff, resulting in disorganized logistics and a poor experience for donors.
• During the initial phase of the building renovation, the contractors significantly **undercommitted** to the amount of labor needed to complete the project on time. They significantly underestimated the complexity of the repairs needed. Consequently, progress was slow and the budget was exceeded due to the delay and need to hire extra help.