Business Models 2/12

Problem Solving Assignment

Problem Example Two

Kyle Thompson

IDM 

Maryanne Harkins

February 11, 2012

The Basic Steps Applied In

This Problem-Solving Case Study “Sparkle”

Sparkle is a small business owner that operates an event planning company. Even though the company has been around for two years now, her business is starting to take off and has resulted in new workers, new clients, and new demands. 

Clearly define and state the problem.  Due to Sparkle’s business expansion, Sparkle has three new part-time workers. These new workers are not handling their aspects of their jobs duties correctly. 

Inaccurate dates and times have been sent out. 

Extracurricular activities are occurring by the new hires on the job. 

The three part-time employees are not giving 100% of their time towards the coordination of events. 

The problem going forward is not to have those little mistakes and the lack of attention to detail by the new workers. 

Analyze the problem. 

Completed work needs to be reviewed by co-workers or by Sparkle herself and then signed off on so that the wrong concert dates and times are not being sent out to the clients.  

Sparkle is not use to having workers, which has lead to the three new workers not being held accountable for their extracurricular activities on the job. 

Listening to music devices when tasks need to be completed and the communication developed between co-workers. 

Browsing the Internet through non-work related websites. 

Using cell phones to make personal phone calls instead of the phone strictly for business calls. 

3.   Formulate at least two possible solutions. 

Move one of the part-time workers into a personal assistant position under Sparkle, which will look over and double check any information by the other two workers before it gets submitted. 

Change the browser settings on the computers to allow only certain websites to be displayed. 

Implement a no cell phone policy while at workstations. 

Provide more training to the workers to establish more of a concrete set of rules, guidelines, and task acknowledgement. 

Re-establish what rules need to be followed with a zero tolerance for workers not following the rules. 

Fire workers not listening to direction or constantly making mistakes.   

4.  Evaluate possible solutions. 

Moving one of the part-time workers into an assistant position to Sparkle, takes away from the initial idea of having three part-time workers. 

Changing the browser settings, having a no cell phone policy, and not allowing music are cheap ways to control distractions. 

Looking into doing a training program, it takes Sparkle away from her managerial duties and puts off the potential of adding any new clients during the training process. 

Replace the workers with new workers that are better skilled and trained to handle the job. Transition period between new workers might have some problems with established communication lines with already established clients and new workers could be as inept as the first crew was. 

5.   Choose a solution.

Keeping in mind that Sparkle is a small business owner, the most viable option is to have no cell-phones or music devices and the installation of browser settings on the computers.  All of these options are free or relatively cheap and can be implemented very fast so business can keep going on schedule. This solution is a short-term and a long-term solution for Sparkle. After assessing the other options they were too costly and time consuming for Sparkle and were not an option at this moment.