Your team has experienced an increase in absenteeism in the past six weeks. In the meeting to define the problem, George recommends that personal leave days be abolished

The group ignores that suggestion but instead decides to fire all employees who are absent starting Monday. What went wrong in the decision-making process?
A) The first acceptable solution was accepted.
B) The problem was stated as part of the solution.
C) The problem was stated too explicitly.
D) The information about the problem was based on speculation.

Answer: B
Explanation: A) Incorrect. The first recommendation (George's) was actually not accepted. The group went with the second recommendation. The problem was not explicitly defined?there is no indication that the team has discussed the specific reasons for the absenteeism. This led to the team discussing solutions prior to generating an accurate problem definition.
B) Correct. Problems should be explicitly stated so that any ambiguities in the definition become apparent. The problem was in fact not explicitly defined?there is no indication that the team has discussed the specific reasons for the absenteeism. This led to the team discussing solutions prior to generating an accurate problem definition.
C) Incorrect. Problems should be explicitly stated so that any ambiguities in the definition become apparent. The problem was in fact not explicitly defined?there is no indication that the team has discussed the specific reasons for the absenteeism. This led to the team discussing solutions prior to generating an accurate problem definition.
D) Incorrect. It is fact, not speculation, that more employees have been absent from work over the last six weeks. The problem was not explicitly defined?there is no indication that the team has discussed the specific reasons for the absenteeism. This led to the team discussing solutions prior to generating an accurate problem definition.