CHANGING JOBS

PROBLEM SOLVING: SECENARIO 1

“CHANGING JOBS”

PHI 210: Critical Thinking

Week 9 Assignment 2

SCENARIO 1: PROBLEM SOLVING

Introduction

The question being asked is what do you do, when faced with a problem? How do you solve it and what steps do you take to ensure that it is adequately solved? In this assignment, the six steps to problem solving will be analyzed and assessed and further applied to scenario 1, in which the person has to make the choice of changing jobs to increase his finances or stay where he is currently employed to further his education. This paper will present a synthesis of all relevant ideas about solving the problem in scenario 1, using the six step systematic apporoach.As Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.”[Week 9 Assignment 2: Problem Solving. Strayer University Blackboard 2015]

Scenario 1:

“You have worked at your company for eleven 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 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.” [Week 9 Assignment 2: Problem Solving. Scenario 1. Strayer University Blackboard 2015]

Define the problem in the scenario chosen.

The problem in this scenario is that this person has worked for his company for eleven years, thus allowing him to further his education and earn a bachelor’s degree and now he is being offered a position for another company that is paying more financially but does not offer the education incentive that his current employer offers. A master’s degree is required for his new position but the fact that they don’t offer tuition reimbursement hurts his chances for advancement. His current employer offer’s tuition reimbursement, but they do not pay as much in reference to the fifteen percent pay increase and they also recommended him for the new position at the new company. The overall problem breaks down into financial increase and education.

Analyze the problem in the scenario.

This man has been working for this company for eleven years and has devoted his time and efforts to maintaining outstanding job performance. He has been working eagerly to acquire a bachelor’s degree that will further his growth advancement in the company in an increasing and rewarding way. The company that he currently works for, rewards his outstanding devotion by recommending him for a higher paying position with another company. In all, he is flattered by the companies great gestures in helping to advance him but he is reluctant to accept such a rewarding opportunity based solely on education advancement that the new company does not help him to acquire. He analyzes all aspects of the move and how they can either hurt him or help him. He has not fully completed his degree and the new job position requires him to move within the next two weeks. This quick advancement could alter his date of graduation further pushing his bachelor’s degree further into the future. If he accepts, it could cause him to lose the tuition reimbursement that he is receiving from his current employer thus forcing him to pay out of pocket or receive financial loans, which can be a burden on his shoulders. Leaving his current employer at this time could be unethical in terms of education, but a chance at advancement in a new company may not come again for a while. Financial stability and the cost of living are of the other important aspects to analyze and consider.

 Generate options for solving the problem in the scenario.

Possible options for solving the problem in this scenario would be to first ask the new company if they could possibly delay the start date, so that you could adequately ensure your degree conferral, thus allowing you to enter into that position with your completed credentials and no debt. If the company agrees, this will give you some time to finish on your obligations and also research the new company. Another option would be to speak with the new employer about education advancement, even though they don’t formerly offer it; this could be something that they offer in terms of accepting their job offer. Consulting with the current employer about a possible pay raise and increase is also another option to consider. Being that he has been employed with this company for eleven years, and they gave him such a great recommendation, it could only make sense to keep him there and offer him more money because he is a great asset to the company.

Evaluate the options for solving the problem.

If the company agrees to delay the start date, this could give him time to finish his degree and other obligations. He would be given time to further research the company and area in which he will be living and working. He will have the time to research the company’s financial stability as well as evaluate his own personal finances to make sure he is making the right decision for him and his family. There are many things to consider with new employment and although he would be receiving a fifteen percent pay increase, he may not last at this company, thus putting him in a bad situation of being out of a job: ie, his new employer and his previous one. During this time, he could be consulting with the new employer about their plans for him at their company and how they feel he is beneficial, this could help to ensure that he is making the right decision. If the company does not agree to offer some form of educational advancement within their company, he could consider paying out of pocket with the new increase or consider staying where he is currently at and consulting with his current employer about a pay increase.

Decide on the best option for solving the problem.

The best option for solving this problem would be to analyze and evaluate all aspects of his choice to either move or accept the new position or stay where he is currently located and consult with his new employer about a pay increase. Asking the new employer for a delay in the start date is paramount in his situation, as all of choices are based solely around this.

 Explain how you will implement the decision made and reflect on whether this option was the most effective.

Implementing this decision should be easy, due to relying solely on that initial question, of asking the new employer to delay the start date. So much can be determined in that time and can give him ample time to make a firm and ethical decision. Weighing his options, he should first consider all of the positives and decide based off of the pros in the decision making process. If the company agrres to delay the start date and also agrees to offer some form of an education incentive while devoting his time and efforts to the company, then his loyalty will be with this company and he will accept their new offer of employment.

References

Week 9 Assignment 2: Problem Solving. Scenario 1. Strayer University Blackboard 2015

Six Step Problem Solving Process. Strayer University Webstext: 2015. Retrieved from http://www.webtexts.com

The Problem Solving Process. 2015. Rtrieved from https://www.gdrc.org