BUS 4901 Problem Solving Assignment Jun-17 1
BUS 4901 Business Professionalism Problem-Solving Assessment
For this class, you will be working individually on a project which deals with your ability to effectively
solve a problem facing an organization.
Specifically, your assignment is to:
1. Identify an ethical issue/dilemma within the past year facing an organization which has not been
totally remedied, or where the remedy was not made public.
2. Identify the Key Problem(s)
a. Take care to seek out root causes for the problem – why does the company find itself in
this situation – instead of jumping at a more superficial, but maybe obvious choice – how
did this information get out.
b. Use evidence from your research to support your articulation of the problem(s).
3. Identify Your Strategic Approach for Solving the Key Problem(s)
a. With the problem(s) in hand, consider how solutions could/should be approached. What
are the ways to approach the issue(s)?
b. Keep in mind that there is usually “more than one way to skin a cat.” Continue to recall
your research and the work you did as part of Number 2 above.
4. Solutions/Hypotheses
a. With your strategic approaches to the problem articulated (your plan of attack set), discuss
the specific and detailed solutions/hypotheses you are confident would specifically address
the key problem(s) from #2.
b. There should be numerous (more than one) realistic courses of action you would suggest
to allow the organization to resolve its key problem(s). All of these should be specific and
detailed suggestions which could actually work, and have a reasonable chance of
succeeding because it is possible for you to defend them as both reasonable and plausible
– using information and facts from your research.
c. There is nothing “off-limits” here except to consider plausibility and realism.
Recommendations can range from doing nothing (unlikely), minor changes, significant
changes or radical changes if one were to think about the recommendations on a scale. All
are good, if they are likely to overcome the key problem(s) you identified in #2.
i. Vague solutions – such as indicating the company should hire an image consultant
resolve their issues.
ii. Stating the company should have not done what it did is also not strong.
iii. Solutions that do not address the key problem(s) – such a suggesting the company
should increase advertising when it is poor organizational controls which is a key
problem.
iv. Think of yourself as the consultant hired to help get this company moving in the
right direction again.
BUS 4901 Problem Solving Assignment Jun-17 2
5. Evaluate the Potential Solutions
a. The final is to evaluate your solutions.
b. Consider: Does each solution actually address the problem(s) you discussed in #2?
c. Do they meet concerns expressed by key stakeholders (internal and external)? Do the
solutions fit (and not contradict) the facts? Have you been able to take into consideration
the history of the problem (if possible)? What about the feasibility of the solutions?
d. Consider the impact of the solutions as well on the company.
e. Articulate and discuss your support and the potential limitations with your solutions. Use
your insights, logic/reasoning, specific facts/context from your research and plausible
assumptions to provide an elegant discussion which demonstrates the nuances of your
solutions.
f. These should help decision-makers in the company choose the one that is best for them,
and shows exemplary problem-solving skills.
g. Weak problem-solving skills tend to be sketchy, illogical, incomplete or unmindful of key
issues and facts. These recommendations are nebulous, would not stand up to rational
cross-examination or are simply unfeasible.
Some Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Too much time is spent reiterating facts instead of using them to support your articulation
of the key problem(s).
• Key problem(s) are omitted from #2 which sets the rest of the analysis on a difficult and
often wrong course.
• You try to fix things that don’t necessarily needed fixed.
• Solutions/hypotheses are self-evident.
• Solutions/hypotheses do not address the issue identified in #2.
• Solutions/hypotheses are completely unrealistic, vague, non-specific and counter-logical
(which should become evident as you try to evaluate them).
There are no other guidelines to follow with respect to length, format, etc. The only expectation is that
your analysis be polished and professional which is worthy of an upper-division accredited collegiate
course. Sloppy, incomplete, late or not taking the assignment seriously will result in no credit being earned
for the course.
Your report will be submitted through Turn-It-In to ensure academic integrity.
Questions that arise as you work on these assignments/deliverables are welcome and should be raised as
they come to mind.