I'm still diving through all the answers (this is GREAT, btw). 2 of my previous PM organizations were hamstrung by exec teams that would decide, in a vacuum, wh

I'm still diving through all the answers (this is GREAT, btw). 2 of my previous PM organizations were hamstrung by exec teams that would decide, in a vacuum, what projects & features would get green-lit. This interference-from-above characteristic can work if a PM is new to the job, but ultimately results in a PM having all the exposure (ie, organizational risk) and zero influence. That's a hopeless scenario & all too common because the vast majority of orgs have no idea what a PM truly is. So I want to know if the OP has the freedom to defend his convictions. It's not about tools. It's about responsibility.