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Workbook

EmployabilitySkills–ProblemSolving

v.1October,2016©1Weshouldalwayspaysomedown.Probablynot5Kthisto

Problem Solving

Employability Skills Workbook

Workbook


v.1October,2016©2

Nopatentliabilityisassumedwithrespecttotheuseoftheinformationcontainedherein.Whileeveryprecautionhasbeentakeninthepreparationofthiswork,theauthorsassumenoresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Neitherisanyliabilityassumedfordamagesresultingfromtheuseofinformationcontainedherein.Thisworkhasbeenpreparedforuseaspartofstructuredvocationaleducationandtrainingandshouldonlybeusedwithinthatcontext.Theinformationcontainedhereinwascorrectatthetimeofpreparation.©BlueprintProjectLLC.ExceptasprovidedbytheCopyrightAct1968,thispublicationmayonlybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystemortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeansasperthetermsandconditionsofpurchase.

[email protected]

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v.1October,2016©3

Contents

Symbols................................................................................................................................................4

Introduction.........................................................................................................................................5

WorkplaceProblems............................................................................................................................6

Activity1WorkplaceProblems.........................................................................................................8

Problem-SolvingSkills..........................................................................................................................9

Activity2Problem-SolvingSkills.....................................................................................................12

Problem-SolvingProcess....................................................................................................................13

Activity3FiveStepProblemSolving...............................................................................................15

Problem-SolvingTools........................................................................................................................16

Activity4Problem-SolvingTools....................................................................................................20

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Symbols

ImportantPoints

Informationthatismostrelevanttothejobrole

Activities

Opportunitiestopracticeandapplyskills

UsefulResources

Websites,resources,organisations,etc.

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IntroductionEmployabilityskillsarethegeneralworkplaceskillsthatemployerslookforbeyondjob-specificskills.Forexample,youneedtobeabletocommunicate,problemsolveandusetechnologyinanyworkplace.Theseskills,alongwithyourjobtrainingmakeyoumoreemployableinarangeofworkplaces.Themodernworkplacerequiresemployeestohavetherightmixofknowledge,abilitiesandpersonalqualitiesinordertobesuccessful.Youneedtoberesourceful,adaptableandorganised,aswellasskilledinyourspecificjob.Havingtheseemployabilityskillsgivesyouagreaterrangeofchoicesinthejobmarketandopensupopportunitiesonceyougetthere.Regardlessofyourspecificjob,ortheindustryyouworkin,thereareseveralskillsemployersarelookingfor:

1. Pre-Employment2. Communication3. Teamwork4. Problemsolving5. Initiativeandenterprise6. Planningandorganising7. Self-management8. Learningandtechnology

ProblemSolving

Problemsolvingisaboutbeingabletofindsolutionswhenfacedwithdifficultiesorsetbacks.Evenifyoucan’tthinkofasolutionstraightaway,youneedtohavealogicalprocessforfiguringthingsout.Problemsolvinginvolves:

§ Identifyinganddefiningproblems§ Usingarangeofpracticalandcreativeskills§ Developingpracticalandinnovativesolutions§ Implementingstrategiesandtools§ Evaluatingsolutions

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WorkplaceProblemsProblemsaredailylifeoccurrence;relationships,money,traffic,thingsthatdon’tworkproperly,etc.Somearemoreseriousandcomplexthanothers,andsomearespecifictocertainsituations.Theworkplacebringsitsownsetofissuesandproblemsthatmakeitdifficultforpeopletodotheirjobs.Workplaceproblemsinclude:

§ Interpersonalconflict§ Communicationproblems§ Gossip,dramaandsmalltalk§ Focusanddisengagement§ Lowmotivationandjobsatisfaction§ Performanceissues§ Poorjobfit

Workplaceproblemsareacommonsourceofstressformostpeople;thereisnoperfectworkplacewhereeveryonegetsalong,theyallunderstandtheirroleandthere’sneveranyconflict.Infact,mostworkplacesaretheopposite;thereisfrequentconflictbetweenworkers,confusionaboutroleexpectationsandpoorcommunicationbetweenmanagementandstaff.Theworkplaceistypicallyanenvironmentinwhichpeoplewithdifferentpersonalities,communicationstyles,andworldviewsinteract.Thesedifferencescancreatetension,stressandconflictthatinsomecases,canbeharmful.Forexample,someworkersexperiencebullying,harassmentand/ordiscrimination,andalthoughallworkershavetherighttobetreatedfairlyandtofeelsafeintheworkplace,thisisnotalwaysthecase.

Workplaceissuessuchasbullying,harassmentanddiscriminationmustbereportedtomanagement/HR,astheseissueshavelegalconsequences.

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Workplaceproblemscanleadtomoreproblems:§ Stress§ Decreasedperformance/productivity§ Lossofjob/termination§ Decreasedsatisfaction/happiness§ Mentalhealthissues

Itisimportanthowever,toseesomeproblemsasopportunities;theychallengeyouandpushyoutoseeanddothingsdifferently,whichultimately

makesyouabetteremployee.

ProblemSolvingBarriers

Inmanyworkplacesituations,weareourownworstenemyinsolvingproblems;wedecidethatproblemscan’tbesolved,otherpeopleareresponsible,wemakerashdecisions,wemakeitpersonal,etc.Barrierstosolvingworkplaceproblemsinclude:

§ Perception§ Assumptions§ Oldhabits§ Fear§ Procrastination§ Beingreactive§ Emotionalattachments§ Pessimism§ Irrationality

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Activity1WorkplaceProblems

1. List5thingsyoubelievetobethemostcommonworkplaceproblems.

2. Compareyourlistwithanotherperson.Whatisdifferent?Whatisthesame?Why?

3. Makealistoftheproblem-solvingbarriersyouhaveencountered,includingyourown.

4. Compareyourlistwithanotherperson.Whatisdifferent?Whatisthesame?Why?

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Problem-SolvingSkillsTosuccessfullysolveworkplaceproblems,youneedpracticalproblem-solvingskillsandcreativeproblem-solvingskills.Dependingontheproblem,theenvironment,otherpeopleyouareworkingwith,andyourownpersonality,oneofthesewillbemoreeffectivethantheother.Practicalproblem-solvingskills(alsocalled,‘Analyticalproblem-solvingskills’)arethecriticalthinkingskillsandsubjectknowledgethathelpyouevaluatetheproblemfromalogicalperspective.Someproblemsrequirealogicalandmethodicalapproach,e.g.,technicalproblems,orproblemswithasetsolution.Practicalproblem-solvingskillsinclude:

§ Puttingthingsinorder,e.g.,events,items,situations,etc.§ Comparingtheoptions§ Contrastingtheoptions§ Evaluatingtheoptions§ Selectingthebestoption

Creativeproblem-solvingskillsaretheindirectanddivergentthinkingskillsthatuseimaginationtoapproachproblemsfromdifferentanglesandfindarangeofinnovativesolutions.Someideasandapproachesmayseemunrealisticorimpractical,butcreativeproblem-solvingpushesyoutolookbeyondtheobviousandtrysomethingnew.Creativeproblem-solvingisgenerallyappliedtofourdifferenttypesofproblems:

§ Personalproblems,e.g.,emotionalorhealthproblems§ Interpersonalproblems,e.g.,disagreementswithotherpeople§ Impersonalproblems,e.g.,shortageofmoney§ Communityandwidersocietalproblems,e.g.,litterorcrimerates,etc.

Creativeproblem-solvingskillsinclude:

§ Creatingabroadrangeofideas§ Drawingconclusions§ Creatinguncommonideas§ Developingideas§ Believingtheproblemwillbesolved

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Effectiveproblemsolvingrequiresameasuredcombinationofpracticalandcreativethinking.

PracticalProblemSolvingSkills CreativeProblemSolvingSkills

§ Gatheringinformationandfacts§ Settingsuitableproblemsolvinggoals§ Applyingrationalthinkingtogeneratepossible

solutions§ Makingdecisionsaboutthebestsolution§ Planning,organisingandimplementing

solutions

§ Usingintuitionanddrawingconclusionsbasedonimpressionsandfeelingsinsteadoffacts

§ Creatingnew,meaningfulideasorconcepts§ Beinginnovative–puttingnewideasorconcepts

toapracticaluse§ Givingthesituationtimeto‘incubate’–letting

thesolutiondevelopovertime

Peopletendtohavearangeofbothproblem-solvingskillsatdifferenttimes,andindifferentsituations.Becauseofthis,itisessentialthatyouapplyeffective

communicationskillsandfocusonaspectsofteamworkwhensolvingproblemswithotherpeopleintheworkplace.

Peoplewithstrongpracticalproblemsolvingskillswhodon’thavestrongcreativeproblemsolvingskillscanseeproblemsasobstacles,athreattotheircomfortandsecurity,ortheybecomefrustratedandannoyedwhenproblemsarise.Theymayhavethepracticalskillstotakeaction,butnotthecreativitytoseedifferentaspectsoftheproblemorthebeliefthattheywillsucceed,andthiscanlimittheirsuccess.Peoplewhohavestrongcreativeproblemsolvingskillsbutnotstrongpracticalproblemsolvingskillscanbeoverlyoptimisticaboutproblemsandfallintothetrapof“hopingforthebest;itwillallworkout”.Thiscreatesasituationwhereproblemsarenotquicklyresolvedbecausetheyfailtotakeaction.Tosolveworkplaceproblems,youneedtobeableto:

§ Focusonthesolution–nottheproblem§ Haveanopenmind§ Beinquisitive§ Viewproblemsneutrally§ Thinklaterally–indirectly,creatively,etc.§ Uselanguagethatcreatespossibility§ Simplifysituations§ Keepemotionsoutofit§ Seeproblemsaschallengesoropportunities§ Believethatproblemsaresolvable§ Understandthatsolvingproblemstakestimeandeffort

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§ Motivateyourselftosolveproblemsimmediately,ratherthanputtingthemoff§ Identifythespecificsoftheproblem§ Evaluateinformationorsituationsthatarelinkedtotheproblem§ Breaktheproblemdownintokeycomponents§ Usecreativityandinitiative§ Makeeffectiveuseofresources§ Considervariouswaysofapproachingandresolvingtheproblem§ Decideonthemostappropriatesolution§ Learnfromtheprocess

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Activity2Problem-SolvingSkills

Thinkabouthowyoutypicallysolveproblems–atworkandathome.1. Writeareflectionthatanswersthefollowingquestions.

§ Howdoyousolveproblemswithfriendsandfamily?§ Howdoyousolveproblemsatwork?§ Doyouconsideryourselftobeagoodproblem-solver?Why/Whynot?§ Whatareyourstrongestandweakestproblem-solvingskills?§ Whatwouldyouliketoimprove?

2. Provide2examplesofactualsituationsyou’vebeeninandhowyouhandledthem.

§ Didyouusepracticalorcreativeproblemsolvingskills?Orboth?How?§ Howdidothersaroundyouhandletheproblemandwhatdoyouthinkaboutit?§ Whatwassuccessful?Whatwasnotsuccessful?

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Problem-SolvingProcessWhethertheproblemrequiresapracticalapproachoracreativeone,asuccessfuloutcomeismorelikelywhenyouapplyaproblem-solvingprocess.Therearemanyvariationsoftheprocessbelow,butthisisthemostwidelyacceptedandused.Five-StepProcesstoProblemSolving

Therearefivegeneralstepsintheproblemsolvingprocess:1. Definetheproblem

Beforeyoucansolvetheproblem,youmustknowexactlywhatitis,andunderstanditsimpact.Takeyourtimeduringthisstage;trytounderstandtheunderlyingcauseoftheproblemanditsmanysymptoms.Byidentifyingandaddressingthecauseoftheproblem,thesymptomsarelikelytobesolvedalso.Definingaproblemcanbeassimpleasaskingtherightquestionsattherighttime:

§ Whatishappening?§ Whatistherealproblem?§ Whyisthishappening?§ Why/Howisitaproblem?§ CanIignorethisproblem?§ Whoandwhatcanhelpsolvethis?

Thisisagoodtimetoapplythe“5Whys”process(seethenexttopic).

Definetheproblem Generateideasfor asolution Decideonasolution

Implementthesolution Reviewtheresults

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2. Generateideasforasolution

Brainstormalistofpotentialsolutionstotheproblem(seethenexttopicformoreonbrainstorming).Createalistthatincludesasmanyideasandoptionsaspossible.Larger,morecomplexproblems,needbiggerlists.Thisstepmaytakeawhiletocomplete.Itmayoccurovermanydaysorweeks,astheideasarepresentedanddiscussed.Dependingontheworkplace,peoplemaybrainstormindividualsolutionsandthencometogetherwiththelargergrouptoshareideas.Itisimportantnottoruleoutanyideasatthispoint.3. Decideonasolution

Reviewthedifferentoptionsthatyougeneratedduringstep2.Selectoneormoresolutionsusingthefollowingquestions:

§ Isiteffective?§ Willitmeetthegoal?§ Isitefficient?§ Willbeaffordable?§ Canitbeimplementedinatimelymanner?§ Willtherebeunintendedconsequences?

ThisisagoodtimetoconductaSWOTanalysis(seethenexttopic).4. Implementthesolution

Onceyouhavemadeadecision,youneedaplantoimplementthesolution.Determinethefollowing:

§ Whatneedstodone§ Howitwillbedone§ Whoneedstodoeachpart§ Wheneachpartneedstobecompleted§ Whenandhowitwillbereviewed

Implementtheplan,monitoritssuccessandprepareforareview.5. Reviewtheresults

Inordertoknowifyousuccessfullysolvedtheproblem,youneedtoreviewtheimpactofthesolution.Thisreviewwillalsohelpyouimproveyourproblem-solvingskillsandpreventsimilarproblemsfromoccurringinthefuture.Thereviewdoesn’tneedtooverlycomplicated;youjustneedtoevaluatethefollowing:

§ Whatworkedandwhatdidn’t§ Feedbackfromotherworkers,customers,clients,management,etc.§ Theentireproblem-solvingprocess

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Activity3FiveStepProblemSolvingProcess

Workingwithasmallgroup,applythe5StepProblem-SolvingModeltotheproblembelow.Afterwards,compareyoursolutionswiththeothergroups.Discussthedifferencesandsimilarities.Doesanythingstandout?

Twoofthefivemembersoftheteamyouworkwitharenotgettingalong.Theybickerabouthowtogetthejobdoneandthewholeteamisstressed.Theybothsaytheycannotbeeffectiveandworkwiththeotherperson.Theyclearlyhavecommunicationissues,generallydislikeeachotheranddonothaverespectfortheothers’ideasandworkmethods.Yourteamisworkingonanimportantprojecttogetherandthereisnoroomforarguingandfightingasthedeadlineisdrawingnear.Thesupervisorisonleaveandasateamyouneedtocomeupwithasolution.

Usethe5Stepprocesstocomeupwithshort-termaswellaslong-termsolutions.

Reflection–Whatwasdifficultaboutthissituationforyou? Sam

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Problem-SolvingToolsThe5Whys

The5Whysisaproblem-solvingtoolthatinvolvesaskingaseriesoffive(orless)“Why”questionstogettotherootoftheproblem.Thethinkingis,theanswertoonequestionwillleadyoutoanotherquestion.ThisisaneffectivetoolforStep1ofthe5-Stepprocess.Thefollowingisaverysimpleexampleofthe5Whyprocess.

Problem:Customerisrefusingtopayfortheirorder.1. Whyaretheyrefusing?

– Becausewedidnotdeliverontime.2. Whydidwenotdeliverontime?

– Becausetheordertooklongertocompletethanweexpected.

3. Whydidittakelongerthanexpected?– Becauseweranoutofmaterials.

4. Whydidwerunoutofmaterials?

– Becausetheywereusedonapreviousorder.

5. Whywasn’ttherebackupstock?– Becausethesupplierdidnotdeliverontime.

Solutions:a. Weneedtofindaback-upsupplierwhocandeliveronshortnotice.b. Weneedanewinventorysystem/schedule.c. Weneedtocheckourstockbeforeprovidingtimeframes.

The5Whysisbestusedforsimple,process-relatedproblems.Formorecomplexproblems,itisrecommendedthatyouuseonethetoolsonthefollowingpages.

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CauseandEffectDiagrams

CauseandEffectDiagrams,alsocalledFishbonediagrams,areeffectivetoolsthathelpidentifyanddocumentallpossiblecausestoproblemsthatyoumayencounterintheworkplace.Usedduringthefirsttwostepsofthe5-stepprocess,andbrainstormingsessions,Fishbonediagramshelpyouthoroughlyconsideranyhiddenfactorsthatmaybecausingorinfluencingtheproblem,suchasresources,equipment,processes,orpeople.

Inafishbonediagram,thevariouscausesaregroupedintocategoriesandthearrowsintheimagebelowindicatehowthecausescascadeorflowtowardtheendeffect.

UsingaCauseandEffectDiagram

1. Identifytheproblem(theeffect):a. Identifywhoisinvolvedb. Identifywhenandwhereitoccurs

2. Decidethecategories–themajorfactorsinvolved:

a. Trytodrawoutasmanypossiblefactorsaspossible–usebrainstormingb. Examplesofcategoriesinclude–people,processes,systems,equipment,resources,

environment,policies,proceduresetc.

3. Identifypossiblecausesoftheproblem:a. Brainstormpossiblecausesoftheproblemthatmayberelatedtothefactorb. Drawtheseassmallerlinescomingoffthe'bones'ofthefish

4. Analyseandinvestigatethediagram:

a. Ask"Why?"or"Whyelse?"toidentifytherootcausesb. Investigatethemostlikelycausesfurther

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Brainstorming

Aneffectiveandefficientmethodofproblemsolvingisbrainstorming;generatingnewandvariedideasinordertobuildcreativityandstimulatemembercontributions.Bouncingideasoffotherpeoplestimulatescreativethinking,whichleadstomoreinnovativesolutions.Brainstormingcanbedoneasaninteractiveexerciseorthepeoplecanworkontheirownbrainstormandthenshareresultswiththegroup.ThisisaneffectivetooltouseinStep2ofthe5-stepprocess.Brainstormingprocess:

§ Generateideas–makesurenoonecriticisesanyideas;thisdampenscreativity§ Geteveryonetocontribute§ Becreativity,evenifitseemsimpractical§ Keepmoving–don’tfocustoolongononetopic§ Encouragepeopletodevelopeachother’sideas§ RecordALLtheideas–theymaybuildoneachother;oryoumayseeatheme§ Sortthroughtheideas§ Lookforanythatareduplicatesandeliminate§ Grouplikeconceptstogether§ Eliminateideasthatdon’taddresstheproblem

Brainstormingisnotaperfecttoolforproblemsolving;itcanbechallengingtobalancepeople’scontributions.Somepeoplearenaturallyquiet,otherscanbemoredominantandittendstobethesemoredominantpeoplewhoseideasareheard.Therearethreemainfactorsthatcontributetounproductivebrainstorming:

Evaluationapprehension

People(especiallyquietones)canbeconcernedaboutmakingagoodimpressionandwillbereluctanttospeakupforfearofbeingjudged.

SocialloafingPeopletendtolosemotivationtoworkhardwhenworkingingroupsbecausetheyfeelthattheothermemberscanpickuptheslack;theyrelyonthemotivationandhardworkofthe‘collective’andthinktheycangeta‘freeride’.

ProductionblockingIndividualcontributionstendtogetinterruptedbythecontributionsofothers,especiallyquietpeoplewhoarelesslikelytojumpinandsaythefirstthingthatcomestomind.

Becarefulusingbrainstorming;thefirstideathatsomeoneorthegroupcomesupwithisnotalwaysthebest.Trytogenerateasmanyalternativesasyoucan.

Remember,thesolutionmayliewiththepersonwhodidn’tspeakupbecausetheydidn’tgetaturn,theywere‘loafing’ortheywereafraidofjudgement.

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SWOTAnalysis

SWOTanalysisisaproblem-solvingtoolthatidentifiesthestrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsofasolution.Afteryouhaveidentifiedtheproblemandexploredpossiblesolutions,conductaSWOTanalysisbyfillingineachofthefourareasinthegridbelow.ThisisaneffectivetooltouseinStep3.Therearemanyotherwaystothinkthroughandsolveproblems:

§ Askmorequestions–wetendtojumptosolutionsbasedonwhatworkedinthepast§ Tacklethesmallestproblemsfirst–onceyouhavesolvedsomebasicproblems,itfeelseasierto

solvethedifficultones§ Usevisualisationandillustration–makeachart,storyboard,drawitoutonawhiteboard,etc.§ Breaktheproblemintocomponents,addresseachcomponentasanindividualproblem§ Useaflowchart–includetheproblemaswellasthingsthatareworking§ Playout“worsecasescenarios”

Strengths•Advantagesoftheoption•Aspectsoftheoptionthatwillhelpsolvetheproblem

Weaknesses•Disadvantages oftheoption•Aspectsoftheoptionthatcouldmakeitfail

Opportunities•Externalresourcesthatcanhelpthesolution•Technology,people,otherorganisations,etc.

Threats•External isuesthatcanderailthesolution•Obstacles- money,time,resources,people,skills,etc.

SWOT

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Activity4Problem-SolvingTools

Workingwithasmallgroup,discussthescenariosbelowandcomeupwithasolutionforeachoneusingoneormoreofthetoolsandstrategiesinthissection.Trytouseadifferenttoolforeachproblem.

1. Thepersonwhoordersmaterialsfortheprojectyouareworkingonhascompletelyforgottentodoit.Everyoneisreadytogetstartedandtherearenomaterialstoworkwith.Theclientiscomingbyintwodaystocheckonprogress.Itwillbeatleast3daysbeforethematerialsarrive.

2. Thepersonwhohandlesalltechnicalsupportforyourwebsiteischronicallylateatgettingbacktoyou.

Unfortunately,hebuiltthewebsiteandsaysitiscomplicatedandonlyheunderstandshowitworks.Youreallylovethewebsiteandknowheistalentedanddonotwanttostartover.

3. Youdonotthinkyouarevaluedasanemployeeatyourjob.Youlovewhatyoudobutarestartingtofeelunmotivated.Youstartmakingcarelessmistakesandyoursupervisorisbeginningtonotice.

4. Yourco-workerrarelyrespondstocustomeremailsinatimelyfashion.Onanumberofoccasions,youhavereceivedangryemailsfromcustomerslettingyouknowtheyaretakingtheirbusinesselsewhere.

Whatproblemsolvingtoolsdidyouuseforeachscenario?Whichonesworkedbestforyou?

Sample

SkillsAssessment

EmployabilitySkills–ProblemSolvingv.1October,2016© 1

Problem Solving

Employability Skills Skills Assessment Sam

ple

SkillsAssessment


Nopatentliabilityisassumedwithrespecttotheuseoftheinformationcontainedherein.Whileeveryprecautionhasbeentakeninthepreparationofthiswork,theauthorsassumenoresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Neitherisanyliabilityassumedfordamagesresultingfromtheuseofinformationcontainedherein.Thisworkhasbeenpreparedforuseaspartofstructuredvocationaleducationandtrainingandshouldonlybeusedwithinthatcontext.Theinformationcontainedhereinwascorrectatthetimeofpreparation.©BlueprintProjectLLC.ExceptasprovidedbytheCopyrightAct1968,thispublicationmayonlybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystemortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeansasperthetermsandconditionsofpurchase.

[email protected]

Sample

SkillsAssessment


Contents

Introduction.........................................................................................................................................4

Task1–CaseStudy..............................................................................................................................5

Task2–Self-Assessment......................................................................................................................6

Task3–Problem-SolvingProcess........................................................................................................7

Task4–Questions...............................................................................................................................8

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SkillsAssessment


IntroductionEmployabilityskillsarethegeneralworkplaceskillsthatemployerslookforbeyondjob-specificskills.Forexample,youneedtobeabletocommunicate,problemsolveandusetechnologyinanyworkplace.Theseskills,alongwithyourjobtrainingmakeyoumoreemployableinarangeofworkplaces.Themodernworkplacerequiresemployeestohavetherightmixofknowledge,abilitiesandpersonalqualitiesinordertobesuccessful.Youneedtoberesourceful,adaptableandorganised,aswellasskilledinyourspecificjob.Havingtheseemployabilityskillsgivesyouagreaterrangeofchoicesinthejobmarketandopensupopportunitiesonceyougetthere.Regardlessofyourspecificjob,ortheindustryyouworkin,thereareseveralskillsemployersarelookingfor:

1. Pre-Employment2. Communication3. Teamwork4. Problemsolving5. Initiative/enterprise6. Planningandorganising7. Self-management8. Learningandtechnology

ProblemSolving

Problemsolvingisaboutbeingabletofindsolutionswhenfacedwithdifficultiesorsetbacks.Evenifyoucan’tthinkofasolutionstraightaway,youneedtohavealogicalprocessforfiguringthingsout.Problemsolvinginvolves:

§ Identifyinganddefiningproblems§ Usingarangeofpracticalandcreativeskills§ Developingpracticalandinnovativesolutions§ Implementingstrategiesandtools§ Evaluatingsolutions

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SkillsAssessment


Task1–CaseStudyUsethiscasestudytoworkthroughworkplaceissuesrelatingto:

§ Interpersonalconflict§ Communicationproblems§ Gossip,dramaandsmalltalk§ Focusanddisengagement§ Lowmotivationandjobsatisfaction§ Performanceissues§ Poorjobfit

Thequestionsbelowareprovidedasaguidetofacilitatediscussion.Theycanbeansweredingroupsorindividually.Feelfreetoaddotherrelevantquestionsthatsuityourparticularneedsorsituation.

Duetobudgetcuts,2ofthe5peopleinyourdepartmenthavebeenletgo.Thesupervisorhasdividedtheworkloadbetweenthe3remainingworkers;Ashley,TimothyandJared.Withoutthemoneyformorestaff,Ashley,TimothyandJaredhavebeentoldtheyareluckytostillhavetheirjobsatallandtobethankfultheywerenotletgo.Whiletheadditionalworkisputtingstressoneachofthem,thereareafewotherissuesthathavecomeup:

1. Timothyisupsetthatthehigher-levelworkhasbeengiventoAshley.Hedoesnotthinksheiscapableofhandlingitandthinksshewillmakethemalllookbad.

2. Jaredissofrustratedabouttheadditionalworkloadthatheiscomplainingtoeveryoneaboutit.3. Ashleyhasbeenbraggingabouthernewresponsibilitiesandistellingpeopleshethinksshewill

getapromotionsoonbecausesheisclearlymoreimportantthanTimothyandJared.

DiscussionQuestions

§ Whatisthemainprobleminthisscenario?§ Ifyouwerethesupervisor,howwouldyouapproachthisproblem?§ Howwouldyousolveeachofthe3otherissues?§ Whatadditionalproblemscouldarisefromthissituation?§ Whatbarrierscouldbepreventinganeffectiveresolution?§ Whatwouldyoufindchallenginginaddressingthisproblem?§ Doesthissituationcallforpracticalorcreativeproblem-solvingskills?HowandWhy?§ Whatproblem-solvingtoolswouldyouapplyforaneffectiveresolution?

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Task2–Self-Assessment1. Whattypeofproblemsolverareyou?Tickalloftheboxesthatapplytoyou.

Iliketo…

q Usecriticalthinkingq Planandorganiseq Setgoalsq Gatherinformationandfactsq Compareoptionsq Makeclear,methodicaldecisionsq Breaktheproblemdownintokeycomponentsq Evaluateinformationrelevanttotheproblem

q lookatproblemsfromdifferentanglesq Developabroadrangeofuncommonideasq Think"outsidethebox"q Believetheproblemwillbesolvedq Useintuitionq Createnew,meaningfulideasorconceptsq Beinnovativeq Giveproblemstimeto‘incubate’

MostlytickedstatementsontheLEFT=Youareapracticalproblem-solver

MostlytickedstatementsintheRIGHT=Youareacreativeproblem-solver

IfyoutickedanEQUALnumberofleftandrightstatements=Youareabalancedproblem-solver

2. Thinkaboutworksituationsyou’vebeenin(orothersituations,ifthisisyourfirstjob)whereyou’ve

beeninstrumentalinsolvingaproblem.Referringtothelistsabove,whatstrategiesdidyouuse?Whatotherstrategiescouldyouhaveusedthatmighthavebeenbeneficial?

3. Reflectonatimesomeoneelsesolvedaproblemdifferentlythanyouwouldhave.Whatdidtheydothat

youadmired?

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Task3–Problem-SolvingProcessIdentifyacurrentprobleminyourworklife,andapplythe5StepProblemSolvingModel.

1.Definetheproblem

2.Ideasforasolution

3.Decideonasolution

4.Implementation

5.Review

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Task4–Questions

Workingonyourown,answerthefollowingquestions.

1. Whatarethetypesofproblemspeopleencounterintheworkplace?

2. Whatarethethingsthatcancreatebarrierstosolvingworkplaceproblems?

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3. Summarisethedifferencebetweenpracticalproblem-solvingskillsandcreativeproblem-solvingskills.

4. Summarisethe5StepProblem-SolvingProcess.

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5. Explainthepurposeofthefollowingtools:§ The5Whys§ Brainstorming§ CauseandEffectDiagrams§ SWOTAnalysis

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EmployabilitySkillsChecklistv.1October,2016©

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EmployabilitySkillsChecklist

Thischecklistprovidesabreakdownoftheskillsthatwillbeaddressedineachtopicofthiskit.UseitasawaytomonitorcompletionoftheEmployabilitySkillskitorasarecordofoutcome.

EmployabilitySkills

PRE-EMPLOYMENT

Usedarangeofsourcestolocatejobpostings Interpretedjobdescriptions Preparedarésumé/CV Filledoutajobapplication Writtenacoverletter Respondedtoselectioncriteria Preparedforajobinterview Interviewedforajob Followedupwithprospectiveemployer Comments

COMMUNICATIONUsedarangeofcommunicationstyles Wasassertive Spokeclearlyanddirectly Adaptedcommunicationtosuitarangeofsituationsandpeople Usedandrecognisednon-verbalcommunication Writtentotheneedsoftheaudienceandsituation Comprehendedwrittenmaterial Usedactivelisteningskills Listenedandunderstands Usedopenandclosedquestionsappropriately Usedappropriatecrossculturalcommunicationtechniques

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EmployabilitySkills

Recognisedandaddressedcommunicationbarriers Comments

TEAMWORKWorkedasanindividualandasamemberofateam Workedconfidentlywithinagroup Contributedownideaseffectively Tookashareoftheresponsibility Acceptedandlearnsfromconstructivecriticism Providedpositive,constructivefeedbacktoothers Workedacrossdifferentages,gender,race,religionorpoliticalpersuasion Recognisedstagesofteamdevelopment Definedownrolewithinteam Appliedteamworktoarangeofsituations Identifiedthestrengthsoftheteammembers Recognisedandaddressesteamchallenges Comments

PROBLEMSOLVINGIdentifiedanddefinesproblems Identifiedbarrierstoproblem-solving Usedarangeofpracticalandcreativeproblem-solvingskills Developedpracticalandinnovativesolutions Implementedarangeofproblem-solvingstrategiesandtools Evaluatedsolutions Sam

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EmployabilitySkills

Comments

INITIATIVEANDENTERPRISEAdaptedtonewsituations Tookcalculatedrisks Wascreative Identifiedopportunitiesotherpeopledon’tsee Identifiedpotentialimprovementstoworkingpracticeandconditions Generatedarangeofoptions Initiatedinnovativesolutions Translatedideasintoaction Didmorethanisexpected Tookresponsibilityforownactions Comments

PLANNINGANDORGANISINGAssessedcurrentsituation/needs Establishedcleargoalsandobjectives Identifiedandanalysesbarriers Developedactionplans Followedthroughonplans Managedtimeandpriorities Scheduledtimeandtasks Delegatedtasksandresponsibilitiestoothers Organisedworkenvironment Sam

ple


4

EmployabilitySkills

Comments

SELF-MANAGEMENTHadself-awareness Understoodpreferredlearningstyle Recognisedandmanagedstress Balancedworkandpersonallife Hadconfidenceinownknowledgeandability Wasdisciplinedandresilient Hadself-control Wasabletoself-regulate Wasmotivated Waspersistent Maintainedhealth Managedinterruptionsanddistractions Comments

LEARNINGANDTECHNOLOGY

Managedownlearningwitharangeofmethodsandtechnology

Contributedtolearningintheworkplace

Waswillingtolearnandapplytechnologyskills

Hadenthusiasmforongoinglearning

Waswillingandopentolearnonandoffthejob

Waspreparedtoinvesttimeandeffortinlearningnewskills

Usedtechnologytoorganiseinformationanddata

Usedworkplacetechnology,includingsocialmediaappropriately

Sample

problem solving workbook - squarespace§ evaluating solutions sample. ... problem-solving process...

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