Writers Den

Assignment 2: Problem Solving

Due Week 9 and worth 150 points

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.

Scenario 5: Professor’s Choice – problem scenario presented by
your professor.

Scenario 6: Student’s Choice – Problem scenario presented by
you.

Review the six-step problem solving process outlined in the
webtext, based on the article “The Problem Solving Process” located athttp://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.

The paper should follow
guidelines for clear and organized writing:

·
Include an
introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.

·
Address main ideas
in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.

·
Adhere to standard
rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.

Your assignment must follow
these formatting requirements:

·
Be typed, double
spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all
sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your
professor for any additional instructions.

·
Include a cover page
containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s
name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are
not included in the required assignment page length.

You should follow these
submission guidelines:

·
Submit the paper
draft to Turnitin.com and then submit the originality report with the draft to
Blackboard.

The specific course learning
outcomes associated with this assignment are:

·
Recognize the
hindrances to the decision-making process in order to apply problem-solving
skills to a variety of situations.

·
Create written work
utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.

·
Use technology and
information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and
informal logic.

Clickhereto view
the grading rubric..

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic
/ organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the
following rubric.

Points: 150	Assignment 2: Problem Solving
Criteria	Unacceptable Below 60% F	Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D	Fair 70-79% C	Proficient 80-89% B	Exemplary 90-100% A
1. Define the problem in the scenario chosen. Weight: 20%	Did not submit or incompletely defined the problem in the scenario chosen.	Insufficiently defined the problem in the scenario chosen.	Partially defined the problem in the scenario chosen.	Satisfactorily defined the problem in the scenario chosen. .	Thoroughly defined the problem in the scenario chosen.
2. Analyze the problem in the scenario. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely analyzed the problem in the scenario.	Insufficiently analyzed the problem in the scenario.	Partially analyzed the problem in the scenario.	Satisfactorily analyzed the problem in the scenario.	Thoroughly analyzed the problem in the scenario.
3. Generate options for solving the problem in the scenario. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely generated options for solving the problem in the scenario.	Insufficiently generated options for solving the problem in the scenario.	Partially generated options for solving the problem in the scenario.	Satisfactorily generated options for solving the problem in the scenario.	Thoroughly generated options for solving the problem in the scenario.
4. Evaluate the options for solving the problem. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely evaluated the options for solving the problem.	Insufficiently evaluated the options for solving the problem.	Partially evaluated the options for solving the problem.	Satisfactorily evaluated the options for solving the problem.	Thoroughly evaluated the options for solving the problem.
5. Decide on the best option for solving the problem Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely decided on the best option for solving the problem.	Insufficiently decided on the best option for solving the problem.	Partially decided on the best option for solving the problem.	Satisfactorily decided on the best option for solving the problem.	Thoroughly decided 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. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely explained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was the most effective.	Insufficiently explained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was the most effective.	Partially explained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was the most effective.	Satisfactorily explained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was the most effective.	Thoroughly explained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was the most effective.
7. Follow APA Style requirements for format, in-text citation of quotes and paraphrases, and references page. Weight: 10%	Did not complete the assignment or had more than 9 errors in following APA Style requirements.	Had 8-9 errors in following APA Style requirements.	Had 6-7 different errors in following APA Style requirements.	Had 4-5 different errors in following APA Style requirements.	Had 0-3 different errors in following APA Style requirements.
8. Follow guidelines for clear and organized writing: include an introductory and concluding paragraph; address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely followed guidelines for clear and organized writing.	Insufficiently followed guidelines for clear and organized writing: did not include an introductory and / or concluding paragraph; did not address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.	Partially followed guidelines for clear and organized writing: included a partially developed introductory and / or concluding paragraph; partially addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.	Sufficiently followed guidelines for clear and organized writing: included an introductory and concluding paragraph; sufficiently addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.	Fully followed guidelines for clear and organized writing: included an engaging introductory and thoughtful concluding paragraph; fully addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and detailed supporting sentences.
9. Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling. Weight: 10%	Did not complete the assignment or had more than 9 errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.	Had 8-9 errors in grammar, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.	Had 6-7 different errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.	Had 4-5 different errors in grammar, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.	Had 0-3 different errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics,