Problem Solving Worksheet

Skill(s) Being Assessed: Problem Solving

Criteria for Success: In this assignment, you will:

• Construct a timeline that includes all key events, arranged in a logical order, and based on credible information from provided sources.
• Include information in the timeline that is accurate, objective and relevant to a workplace incident.
• Produce writing that is clear and well organized and applies appropriate SWS style. Writing contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling.

What to submit/deliverables: A timeline of events based on the sources provided in the assignment.

What is the value of doing this assignment?

You are bombarded with information everyday, from news and social media, family and friends, instructors and peers at school, and from colleagues at work. This information is often unclear, misleading, or based on partial knowledge. You need to piece together incomplete information, or information from different sources (some credible, some less so, or that represent different perspectives) in order to solve problems and make sense of evidence.

In this assignment, you have the opportunity to practice your problem-solving skill working through information (some more or less credible) in order to piece together the events of an unfortunate workplace incident. This will give you the opportunity to practice your problem-solving skill by identifying and presenting clear and accurate information as the first step in the problem-solving process. You will use different sources of information as clues you must piece together, identify important questions to follow up on, and uncover connections that will allow you to reach evidence-based conclusions. Doing so will not only help you be successful in this course, but as you learn to use credible information to help solve problems in your personal and professional life.

This will lay the foundation for your second assignment where you will make (or decide against) disciplinary recommendations based on your findings.

Your goal for this assignment is to: Practice your problem-solving skill by analyzing different sources of information in order to create a timeline of events to help you piece together the details of a problem (a workplace event).

What you need to complete this assignment: To complete this assignment, you will need the following resources:

• Loss Prevention Interview Transcripts for Michael, Sarah, and Rachelle; and Security Camera Footage [DOCX] (a time-stamped transcript).
• Office Layout Map [PDF].

Note: All of the resources above can be found on the Submit page in Week 3 of Blackboard.

Scenario:

A valuable piece of technology testing equipment went missing from your company after arriving in a shipment. The same day, a seemingly identical item was posted for sale on an internet auction site. Three employees were present within the 90-minute window that the item went missing.
You are the director of Viewpoint, the company’s employee relations department. The Viewpoint Director position, a role in Human Resources, means that you are an advocate for all employees and that your primary responsibility is to relate employee concerns to leadership and provide guidance on situations involving employee discipline (as requested). The inventory manager has asked you to assist in this loss prevention case by constructing a timeline of events as the first step.

Steps to complete: In Week 3, complete and submit your assignment in BlackBoard using the following steps:

STEP 1: Review the transcripts of all three employees (Page 3.10 in the Webtext) and the security camera footage (Page 3.11). Do not use any other sources. Space for note taking is provided in the Webtext. As you review the sources, use the provided space to take notes on the following:

• What information did you learn from each source?
• What do the sources agree on?
• What events definitely happened, and which likely happened?
• What conflicting information do you notice?

STEP 2: Determine the most relevant information needed to construct the best possible timeline based on the provided sources. What information you choose to include (and exclude) will be an important part of your timeline clarity and accuracy. Ensure information is placed properly in the chart.

STEP 3: Create a timeline based on the information you’ve determined most relevant. The timeline template is located on Page 3.12 in the Webtext. As you create your timeline, consider the following:

• Is the timeline easy to understand? Does it read clearly and in a logical order?
• Is the language and presentation appropriate for a professional audience? Consider grammar, choice of wording, and visual effectiveness.

STEP 4: Download your complete timeline from the webtext. Once downloaded, review the timeline for accuracy and completeness. Edit as needed. Note: The timeline template provided in the webtext has a set number of blank areas for you to fill. If you decide there are fewer or a greater number of events than the spaces provided, you can add additional entries to your timeline after downloading the template.

STEP 5: Submit your timeline via Blackboard on the Submit page in Week 3. Note: Your grade will be based on a combination of the information you choose to include, your timeline, and its clarity. Review the rubric on the assignment submission page.

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.