Once management reaches the point of coming up with solutions to the absenteeism, suggestions abound. No sooner has one proposal been submitted than another is ofered for review. Te head of the Sales department interrupts the process. He agrees that it is clear the problem is mainly the result of a situation on the production foor, and not from other departments. Te solution, he suggests, should be found in the same location. He feels this is a job for the team managers of the production teams. Tey will need to be more aware of, and respond better to, their teams calling in sick. All other suggested solutions are ignored in favour of discussing this latest idea.

Since the meeting is almost at its end, the director fnishes by concluding that team leaders will need to improve their handling of absenteeism. Te head of the Production department voices his doubts about this approach but is ignored.

a Which phases of problem-solving and decision-making have been covered?

b To what extent have these phases been covered adequately?

c How can this solution-process be characterised, i.e. using which characteristic(s)?