Risks and rewards related to a management problem solution

Management Solutions

Problem solving is a daily practice for all managers. Some managers are naturally effective problem solvers while others require training and experience in various scenarios and the use of resources. According to Hicks (2017), when faced with a problem, there are three things that people tend to do: the wish it would just disappear because they are outside of their comfort zone; they are afraid to decide because it may be wrong; or they try to point the finger on someone so that the blame and focus is shifted to them.

Hicks (2017) discusses seven steps for effective problems solving in the workplace: identify the issues; understand everyone’s interests; list the possible solutions; evaluate the options; select an option or options; document the agreement; and agree on contingencies, monitoring, and evaluation. To add to this, Llopis (2013) also includes: transparent communication; break down silos (boundaries); open-minded people; and a solid foundational strategy.

The issue that is being studied to assist the management to resolve issues is within the Women Veterans Association. There is an issue with lack of communication which has resulted in a breakdown in communication; deadlines not being met; unprofessional presentations and no-shows at events; hostility; and lack of trust. There is also a conflict of interest because of the person’s involvement in two organizations and holding a similar role in both; the Women Veterans Association and the Women of the Military Foundation.

The interest of the Women Veterans Association is to promote and preserve the history of women veterans. This organization owns a huge number of historic items which together and individually are worth large sums of money, including many items that were donated from the families of deceased and living veterans. This collection will soon be transferred to the Women of the Military Foundation.

Unfortunately, the Women Veterans Association’s board of directors is comprised of women veterans who are disbursed throughout the United States and overseas; therefore, there is not opportunity to meet face-to-face, except for the interim board meeting that falls between the biennial convention and the board meeting at the convention. Meetings are held via teleconference. The issues have been directly discussed with the person of concern with no changes on her end. She has been made so valuable that the organization wants to keep her.

A recommended solution that should resolved all of the problems, with the exception of hostility, is to remove her position as the Women of the Military Collection Historian since it will no longer be needed after the historic items are transferred to the Women of the Military Foundation; make the Women Veterans Association historian responsible for ALL matters related to history in the organization; this historian position and all history matters will fall under the second vice president vs. first vice for some matters and second vice for other matters; and make a position for person of issue in the history committee under the historian so that her knowledge and expertise will still be of benefit to the organization.

References

Hicks, T. (2017). Seven Steps for Effective Problem Solving in the Workplace. Retrieved from