Identify a problem in your workplace. If you are not currently employed, interview someone in your family or a friend who is employed and who would like to share a problem they have at work.
You need to do the following:
- Try to solve the problem by using the six steps of problem solving.
- Apply the ‘five-whys’ method on the same problem and write down the five reasons.
- Write the results of (1) and (2) in a message in your team forum, explaining the problem and how you would solve this problem using these two methods. Explain which of the two methods you preferred and why.
- As a team, choose one problem you all know about (from the news or in your communities if you live close to each other).
- As a team discuss how the two problem-solving methods would apply.
- The presenter compiles a five-slide PowerPoint (or similar software) presentation, which includes:
- a summary of preferred methods and reasons why (summary of individual viewpoints following (3))
- an analysis of the team problem (using the two problem-solving methods).
Output of this team task: five-slide PowerPoint (or similar software) presentation
Deadline: [tutor to add]
Where is this happening?
On the course page, each team has a discussion forum called [your team name]: using problem-solving tools. Use the discussion forum to post your own contribution and to discuss and agree on how to solve the team problem.
Who does what?
By now you will have received a message from your facilitator appointing a presenter for your team.
What do the presenters do?
The presenters contribute to the team task discussions and also:
- moderate discussions if necessary
- ensure team members stick to the task
- act as a timekeeper to ensure the task is done by the deadline
- post a draft presentation a few days before the deadline so that team members can ensure this represents the views of the team
- make changes to the draft presentation if necessary
- attach the final presentation to a forum message titled ‘final presentation’.
What does everyone else do?
All team members need to be actively involved in this task. A team that works collaboratively does not need to ask a lot of their presenter, so please support them so that they can do their job well.
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