When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? This
assignment asks you to apply a six-step to problem solving process
to a specific problem scenario. You will write a paper that
presents a synthesis of your ideas about solving the problem using
this systematic approach. As Voltaire said, “No problem can
withstand the assault of sustained thinking.”Choose one (1) of the
problem scenarios as a topic choice for your paper (Note: Your
professor must approve your topic choice before you begin work on
the assignment.)Scenario 1: You have worked at your company for
eleven (11) years. You have returned to college to earn a
Bachelor’s degree in order to increase your chances for a
promotion. You are nearly finished with your degree, when a
supervisor’s position in a competing company becomes available in
another state. The start date is in two (2) weeks, during your
final exam period for your courses. The position offers a $15,000
per year salary increase, a car allowance, and relocation expenses.
Your former supervisor works for the company and is recommending
you for the position based on your outstanding job performance; if
you want the job, it’s yours. All of the other supervisors at this
level in the company have Master’s degrees, so you know that you
would be expected to earn your Bachelor’s degree and continue on to
a Master’s degree. Your present company offers tuition
reimbursement, but the new company does not.Scenario 2: Your child
comes home from school with an assignment sheet for a school
project. He / she is very excited about the project and begins work
immediately, doing research on the Internet and gathering
materials. You read over the assignment sheet and notice that your
child is not including all of the required items in the project,
and you have some ideas for how to improve the quality of the
presentation. You recently read an article in a parenting magazine
about the importance of a child developing responsibility for his/
her own learning. You recall the many ways in which your parents
took over your school projects. You, on the other hand, want to
encourage your child’s confidence in his / her ability to complete
a project independently. The next day, you are at the grocery store
when you see a parent of a student in your child’s class. That
parent has spent over $30 in supplies for the science project and
is taking a day off of work to put the pieces of the project
together.Scenario 3: You have two jobs—one during the week from
9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and one on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
You are taking two classes—one that meets from 6:00 to 10:00 pm,
and one class online. You have two kids—one who plays soccer, and
one who is in band. You have two elderly parents who no longer
drive. You have two siblings—one who lives two (2) miles away, and
one who lives in another state. You have two (2) papers due in your
classes the same week that one (1) of your children has a soccer
tournament, and the other child has a band concert. You are
coaching the soccer team, and you are in charge of fundraising for
the band. You have a goal to complete your degree in two (2) years.
Your doctor tells you that your blood pressure, your cholesterol,
and your weight are too high and recommends several medications
that cost you nearly $200 per month after your insurance
co-pay.Scenario 4: You are a sales representative for a company
that encourages staff to log time in the field and away from the
office. You are expected to begin and end your day at the office.
You notice that each day when you arrive and return another
co-worker is already there, and you wonder whether this person
spends most of his / her time at the office. At your weekly sales
meeting, you are informed of your co-workers’ outstanding sales
performance. You suspect that this co-worker is spending more time
flattering the boss instead of working leads in the field, and as a
result is getting the best client referrals. Your own sales numbers
have steadily decreased since this other sales representative was
hired.Review the six-step problem solving process outlined in the
webtext, based on the article “The Problem Solving Process” located
at http://www.gdrc.org/decision/problem-solve.html:
Step One: Define the problem
Step Two: Analyze the problem
Step Three: Generate options
Step Four: Evaluate options
Step Five: Make your decision
Step Six: Implement and reflect
Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you: 1. Define
the problem in the scenario that you have chosen. 2. Analyze the
problem in the scenario. 3. Generate options for solving the
problem in the scenario. 4. Evaluate the options for solving the
problem. 5. Decide on the best option for solving the problem. 6.
Explain how you will implement the decision made and reflect on
whether this option was the most effective.
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