2. Get ready

Read the following descriptions of problem-solving approaches.

1. Increasing the quality and range of Quests adventure tours means that the top managers will notice my contributions and promote me to a better position and salary. Increasing the quality and range of Quests adventure tours seems like the best solution.

2. It seems obvious to me that Quest should offer popular tours more often to increase revenue. Nancy McDonald thinks we should increase the quality and range of adventure tours, but what does she know? Shes in the Customer Service Department!

3. As a member of the Marketing Department, Im sure we can increase sales with a promotional campaign, if only top management would leave us alone to produce a great campaign. Im sure we can come up with something that will blow away the competition, and even win a few awards.

4. The best solution to the problem of flat sales is to cut expenses. We can reduce expenses starting today by laying off a few nonessential staff members. Thats the fastest way to improve profits without making a lot of other changes.

5. Keisha Lane really seems to think that increasing the price of all the Quest tours by 10 percent is the best way to solve the problem of flat sales, and shes usually right. A couple of the tour developers seem to be leaning toward that solution also. Ill go along with them since they know more about the problem than I do.

3. Now you try it

In the following space, identify the type of trap Problems 1,2,3,4,5 represents, if any.