1. Discuss with someone who has successfully solved a problem involving others how they went about it. Ask for specific details, using the problem-solving guidelines above or another specific strategy, if relevant.

2. What processes should you go through before making a sound decision? Answer in point form.

3. Discuss with different people who supervise or manage others what kinds of problems they face daily and what other kinds of problems they face. Try to gather a list of typical problems, and some that are out of the ordinary or that occur only occasionally (such as problems associated with changing procedures). Give some practical tips on handling these problems that you would offer to a friend who is in a supervisory capacity. Submit the list of problems with your tips.

4. In a meeting of supervisors from several departments in a retail store, it is reported that because of increased shopping hours, there is an increased workload. (The extra hours are Saturday afternoon trading - 1 pm to 5 pm). The situation will necessitate introducing an increase over time. (The overtime rates paid to staff are higher than normal wages). The same (or better) levels of profitability must be maintained.

Various ways of dealing with this increased workload are discussed, then the supervisors are left to decide how to handle the situation in their own departments. Show, step by step, how you (as a supervisor of a department) would work through the problem-solving technique in order to determine a good way of dealing with this problem. Suggest how you might handle programming the extra hours of work; and how you might deal with increased costs.