Write a report of 2,000 words, in which you apply recognised problem-solving tools and techniques to identify and propose solutions to a work-based problem, to include an evaluation of possible solutions.

APPENDIX GA36a

BMSW4004 Problem Solving and Decision Making

MODULE AIM

1. To be able to solve problems and make decisions in the workplace
2. To be able to manage and implement change in the workplace.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon the successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

1. Describe a problem, its nature, scope and impact.
2. Gather and interpret information to solve a problem.
3. Evaluate options to make a decision.
4. Plan, monitor and review the implementation and communication of decisions.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment – Component 1 (100%)

Role play supported by 2000 words individual report

Task 1 - Role play (50% of the overall mark)

Read the case study that follows task description to gain an understanding of the complex problem of ‘Job dissatisfaction’ faced by UK employees, then prepare to participate in a 10-15 minute role play (in the classroom, or, in the case of online students, on MS Teams) where you will play the role of a management consultant tasked to solve the complex problem. You will be paired with another student acting as an unsatisfied employee (who will not be assessed). During the role play, expect the dialogue to cover:

• A discussion on the nature and impact (actual and potential) of the complex problem on the overall performance of organisations.
• A research-informed cause-and-effect analysis of the complex problem.
• A PESTLE analysis of the macro-environmental factors contributing to the complex problem.
• An evaluation of alternative solutions to the complex problem with an aim of choosing the most appropriate solution among these alternatives.
• A demonstration of how organisations may plan implementation of chosen solution and evaluate outcome.

Note: If you are unable to find a partner for your role play, your lecturer can act as your role play partner

Task 2 - Individual Report - 2000 words (50% of the overall mark)

Write a report of 2,000 words, in which you apply recognised problem-solving tools and techniques to identify and propose solutions to a work-based problem, to include an evaluation of possible solutions. Discuss and agree with your lecturer a suitable problem to be solved which may be drawn from your current or past work experiences or an agreed situation.

Consider the following aspects:

• define a complex problem in the workplace including its scope and impact;
• analyse information on the identified problem, to help inform the decision-making process;
• propose a range of alternative solutions to the problem;
• use a decision-making technique to evaluate a range of solutions to identify the most appropriate option;
• develop a plan for implementing the solution;
• communicate the plan to stakeholders;
• assess appropriate monitoring and review techniques to ensure successful implementation of the solution.

Please note: at the end of the module, the marks from both tasks will be merged into one overall mark.

Job dissatisfaction refers to when an employee is unhappy or holds negative feelings toward their job and the company they work for. There are many factors that could cause job dissatisfaction in an employee, including: long hours, underpaid, no work/life balance, and so much more. When an employee is dissatisfied in their work environment or the overall company they work for, managers and CEOs can start to see the effects in company productivity.

So why should employers care about their employee’s satisfaction? The worst consequences of employee dissatisfaction affect both the company and the organization. It can result in lack of motivation, lack of interest, poor productivity, absenteeism, frustration, and if bad enough, high turnover rates. There are several specific reasons that an employee may be feeling job dissatisfaction, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few of the bigger main reasons.

 1. Underpaid

One of the primary reasons for job dissatisfaction is when an employee feels as though they are being underpaid. One way they could come to this conclusion is by researching what others are being paid doing the same job in the same area. Underpaid employees often have to stretch their money further than others, and often have to choose necessities over doing anything nice or fun for themselves. The stress of having to pay bills with limited income can cause employees to feel dissatisfied with their jobs.

2.   Work/Life Balance

When companies fail to recognize the need for their employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance, they are ultimately affecting their productivity levels. Too much emphasis on work frequently results in feelings of loneliness and frustration for employees. Acknowledging each employee’s efforts to strike a balance between work and personal life allows CEOs to be part of the solution. Job satisfaction typically increases with improved work-life balance, which increases employee loyalty, creativity, productivity and overall satisfaction.

 3. Little to No Vacation Time

Employees need time to recharge and come back to work with fresh eyes and a fresh mind. Research has shown that not taking a healthy break from work can lead to a wide range of unwelcome mental and physical effects on the average worker. When an employee does not have the time to take vacation, they increase the risk of job burnout and decreased efficiency in their work. These employees ultimately become less productive and valuable employees.

Allowing employees to take time off to recharge and have some fun allows them to return to work refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Giving employees generous amounts of vacation is ultimately a benefit for the company overall.

4. Bad Management / Unsupportive Boss

Managers are responsible for motivating employees and controlling the organization. Bad management plays a huge role in employee dissatisfaction. When a manager has poor leadership skills, they tend to offer little to no feedback on their employees’ work, which ultimately causes dissatisfaction in the workplace. Employees want to be led in the right direction, they just need a good manager to lead them, along with good leadership. They need a manager who will tell them they are doing a great job.

 5. Company Culture

Employee engagement is a direct outcome of a high-performance company culture. This is because high-performance cultures outline behaviors that are healthy and supportive. In these cultures, employees clearly understand their roles and what is expected of them. These employees are highly motivated, creative and overall happy. Employees in high-performance cultures feel connected, heard, supported, and involved. When you take this company culture away from an employee, they can start to feel dissatisfied with their job. Employees start to not feel listened to or involved in their job, and this causes employees to not want to participate.

6. No Room for Growth

It is easy for an employee to disengage from their work when they feel that the company does not value these or they do not have incentives for job growth. If an employee feels as though they can never grow within the company and work toward a different role than what they are in now, there is no motivation for them to excel at their jobs. When an employee feels as though they are working toward something better, they tend to work harder and enjoy their jobs.

Source: https://chaplain.org/news/2021/top-6-factors-that-cause-employee-job- dissatisfaction/ [Accessed on 14/10/2021]

End of case Study

NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five generic assessment criteria overleaf.

1. Engagement with Literature Skills

Your work must be informed and supported by scholarly material that is relevant to and focused on the task(s) set. You should provide evidence that you have accessed an appropriate range of sources, which may be academic, governmental and industrial; these sources may include academic journal articles, textbooks, current news articles, organisational documents, and websites. You should consider the credibility of your sources; academic journals are normally highly credible sources while websites require careful consideration/selection and should be used sparingly. Any sources you use should be current and up-to- date, mostly published within the last five years or so, though seminal/important works in the field may be older. You must provide evidence of your research/own reading throughout your work, using a suitable referencing system, including in-text citations in the main body of your work and a reference list at the end of your work.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

Your research for both tasks can be based on different online resources available in the online reading list on Moodle and UWTSD Online Library. You can also use some of the relevant online resources with academic authenticity such as ft.com, bbc.com, business magazines and national newspapers etc. If in doubt about the suitability/relevance of the source, please consult your lecturer and/or the Academic Support tutor.

2. Knowledge and Understanding Skills

At level 4, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with your area(s) of study. Knowledge relates to the facts, information and skills you have acquired through your learning. You demonstrate your understanding by interpreting the meaning of the facts and information (knowledge). This means that you need to select and include in your work the concepts, techniques, models, theories, etc. appropriate to the task(s) set. You should be able to explain the theories, concepts, etc. to show your understanding. Your mark/grade will also depend upon the extent to which you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

For the role play exercise, you need to show that you understand relevant tools and techniques of problem solving and decision making in context with the provided case study.

For the report, you need to show that you understand the how to solve complex problem/s at workplace by applying recognised problem-solving tools and techniques. You also need to support the usefulness of the topics discussed, with detailed examples.

3. Cognitive and Intellectual Skills

You should be able to present, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, in order to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of your subject(s) of study. You should be able to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems related to your area(s) of study and/or work. Your work must contain evidence of logical, analytical thinking. For example, to examine and break information down into parts, make inferences, compile, compare and contrast information. This means not just describing what! But also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? At what cost? You should provide justification for your arguments and judgements using evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of others within the subject area and that you are able to make sound judgements and arguments using data and concepts. Where relevant, alternative solutions and recommendations may be proposed.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

For the role play exercise, explain why you think you possess the problem solving and decision-making skills you discuss and draw appropriate conclusions, suggesting how you plan to improve them.

For the report, you need to demonstrate the ability to reflect on your learning experience (both in and outside of the classroom) by making logical connections between the material presented by the lecturer, your feelings about it, your thoughts during the class activities and your predictions as to how useful they will be for you in future.

4. Practical Skills

At level 4, you should be able to apply the basic underlying concepts and principles to evaluate and interpret these within the context of your area of study. You should be able to demonstrate how the subject-related concepts and ideas relate to real world situations and/or a particular context. How do they work in practice? You will deploy models, methods, techniques, and/or theories, in that context, to assess current situations, perhaps to formulate plans or solutions to solve problems, or to create artefacts. This is likely to involve, for instance, the use of real world artefacts, examples and cases, the application of a model within an organisation and/or benchmarking one theory or organisation against others based on stated criteria.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

For the role play exercise, you need to be able to evaluate your own skills in light of industry expectations. Make use of the different tools and techniques discussed in class or discovered through reading.

For the report, you need to be able to apply relevant tools and techniques discussed in class or discovered through reading.

5. Transferable Skills for Life and Professional Practice

Your work must provide evidence of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility. This includes demonstrating: that you can communicate the results of your study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments; that you can initiate and complete tasks and procedures, whether individually and/or collaboratively; fluency of expression; clarity and effectiveness in presentation and organisation. Work should be coherent and well-structured in presentation and organisation.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

For the role play exercise, you should be able to make a discussion on the nature and impact (actual and potential) of the complex problem on the overall performance of organisations. Your role play should demonstrate the in-depth research on and around the given case study.

For the report, you need to be able to apply the recognised problem-solving tools and techniques discussed in class or discovered through reading. Your report should be appropriately structured; it should have a cover page, a table of contents and logical sections. It should be written using formal language, in clear paragraphs, in a way that conveys the meaning intended. You should ensure the grammar, spelling, punctuation and use of vocabulary are correct and reflect the way you normally write in English. The use of translation and/or paraphrasing software is discouraged but you are welcome to use a dictionary/thesaurus.

This section details the extent to which the assessment criteria are demonstrated by you, which in turn determines your mark. The marks available for each category of skill are shown. Lecturers will use the space provided to comment on the achievement of the task(s), including those areas in which you have performed well and areas that would benefit from development/improvement.