problem solving project
Order Description
Problem-Solving Project (25 points) Word Document Submitted to Dropbox
Through D2L you will participate in a Problem-Solving Project using a pre-determined issue (problem) and an outlined problem-solving process.
you will select and agree upon a problem/issue from the problem scenarios I have listed in the Resources area. Using the problem-solving matrix I provided you will outline the steps you utilized to “resolve” the problem/issue, and discuss the outside resources/sources used to support your thoughts and actions. Sources must be reputable, credible, and cited in APA format.
• You will complete a 2-3 page word document for submission to the dropbox for grading. You may present your work to the dropbox in narrative form, or you may use the blank matrix I provided and complete your work under the “Actions Taken/Sources Used” side of the matrix. Although you are a team, each member will submit their assignment individually to their own dropbox for their individual grade.
You have the freedom to collaborate and work in a manner conducive and convenient to your own personal schedules. This involves communicating and collaborating with your partner. I will leave the details up to you, but encourage you to contact me if you have problems or need guidance, and caution you not to wait until the last week to begin.
Problems List for Joint Problem Solving Project
1. Supervisors providing insufficient training in work environment
2. Managers demanding overtime with no additional compensation
3. Worker passed over for a job position due to same-sex marital status
4. Harassment from other co-workers based on a workers ethnicity or religion
5. Adult student with competing tension between life obligations and educational obligations
6. Faculty members at a university not responding to the unique needs of adult students in their classes
7. High “drop-out” numbers for adult and non-traditional students
8. Newly promoted manager struggling with the transition
9. Volatile worker who is making others uncomfortable
10. Worker who is a domestic abuse victim
11. Worker supervisor believes has a substance abuse problem
12. Employer not willing to provide reasonable accommodation to worker who requires a modification of job duties because of a disability
13. Instituting a new attendance/tardy policy due to frequent tardiness at work
14. Professor refusing to provide reasonable accommodation to student with documented learning disability
Problem-Solving Matrix
Problem-Solving Step Actions Taken/Sources Used
Define and analyze the problem Activities
• Define and explain problem clearly
• Provide background information
• Discuss problems causes, extent of the effect
Research and locate an outside reputable source relevant to this step, or of support to you in this area. You may discuss the content or source, or you may use the link or a complete APA formatted citation (do not use Wikipedia, Huffington post, or other .com site)
Establish criteria for evaluating solutions Activities
• Identify the standards used for evaluating solutions
• Discuss the practical standards (resource, time, budget)
• Discuss value standards (ethics, legality)
Research and locate an outside reputable source relevant to this step, or of support to you in this area. You may discuss the content or source, or you may use the link or a complete APA formatted citation (do not use Wikipedia, Huffington post, or other .com site)
Identify possible solutions Activities
• Identify a variety of solutions
• Provided original or past solutions
Research and locate an outside reputable source relevant to this step, or of support to you in this area. You may discuss the content or source, or you may use the link or a complete APA formatted citation (do not use Wikipedia, Huffington post, or other .com site)
Evaluate solutions Activities
• Weigh advantages and disadvantages of each solution
Research and locate an outside reputable source relevant to this step, or of support to you in this area. You may discuss the content or source, or you may use the link or a complete APA formatted citation (do not use Wikipedia, Huffington post, or other .com site)
Select best solution Activities
• Propose a best solution or combination of solutions
• Explain how solution(s) satisfy the practical and value standards
• Describe how you came upon your decision-making method (consensus, majority, etc.)
Research and locate an outside reputable source relevant to this step, or of support to you in this area. You may discuss the content or source, or you may use the link or a complete APA formatted citation (do not use Wikipedia, Huffington post, or other .com site)
Establish methods to implement and test solutions Activities
• Present clear plan of action for implementing solution(s)
• Explain how the plan is expected to work
Research and locate an outside reputable source relevant to this step, or of support to you in this area. You may discuss the content or source, or you may use the link or a complete APA formatted citation (do not use Wikipedia, Huffington post, or other .com site)
Adapted from Roy Schwartzman (2006), Virtual Group Problem Solving in Basic Communication Course: Lessons for Online Learning, Journal of Instructional Psychology, Vol 33, No 1.
Team Members Name(s) _________________________________________________________________________________
Date________________________________________________________________
Problem-Solving Matrix
Problem-Solving Step Actions Taken/Sources Used
Define and analyze the problem
Establish criteria for evaluating solutions
Identify possible solutions
Evaluate solutions
Select best solution
Establish methods to implement and test
solutions
Taken from Roy Schwartzman (2006), Virtual Group Problem Solving in Basic Communication Course: Lessons for Online Learning, Journal of Instructional Psychology, Vol 33, No 1.