Workplace Readiness: Quiz 1

An employee at an auto repair garage proposes a new, efficient way to safely dispose of used motor oil. This is an example of:

• critical thinking and problem solving.

• teamwork.

• work ethic.

• creativity and innovation.

Answer explanation

The key word is NEW. Coming up with something NEW is an example of creativity and innovation.

Which is the best example of "demonstrating creativity and innovation"?

• Evaluating potential solutions and resources

• Displaying a disciplined work ethic

• Developing and/or improving a product, service, or processes

• Prioritizing your job tasks on a daily basis

Answer explanation

"Developing" something would be to make something NEW. Making something new would require you to be creative and/or innovative.

An example of demonstrating creativity and innovation at work is to:

• arrive to work on time each day

• have a positive relationship with your manager

• follow work protocol as stated by the employee policies

• learn to do your job more efficiently

Answer explanation

While all the answers are good work practices, only "learn to do your job more efficiently" requires you to be creative or innovative because you have to learn to do something NEW.

During a staff meeting, a supervisor asks employees to bring new ideas to the next staff meeting that will improve customer service. The BEST way to come up with good ideas is to...

• 
  research how competitors have done it

• ask your coworkers what they would do

• 
  ignore requests that are outside of your job description

• 
  consult the employee handbook

Answer explanation

When looking for NEW ideas, you want to look in NEW places. Asking people in your workplace or looking in the employee handbook probably only give you ideas similar to what you already do. Researching someone NEW, like your competitors, is more likely to give you NEW ideas.

Which of the following statements best resemble the creative process?

• Find a disruption and imitate it

• 
  Find a pattern and disrupt it

• 
  Find a repeating pattern

• 
  Focus a single idea and repeat it

Answer explanation

Being creative involves doing something NEW. When you "repeat" or "imitate" something or follow a "pattern", you are just copying something else. If you disrupt a pattern though, it means you break the pattern and do something NEW.

You are working on a time-sensitive project. Your coworker comes to you and says he needs to leave, due to a family emergency. He asks you to complete a project for him that is due that day. Following problem-solving steps, what is the FIRST step you should take to ensure all work is completed?

• Concentrate on your project first

• 
  Evaluate the coworker's role and performance with the project leader

• Tell your coworker you are unable to help

• Clarify the priority of objectives with the project leader

Answer explanation

In order to solve the problem of having two different projects to finish, you first need to be clear on (clarify) which one is the higher priority (more important) so you know which to do first (or if you even need to do both). Your boss, or project leader, would be able to tell you which project is the bigger priority.

The activity of examining information, events, or relationships and making disciplined assumptions that are clear, rational, open-minded, and based on evidence is:

• subjectivity

• brainstorming

• critical thinking

• managing resources

Answer explanation

The answer is "critical thinking". When you "examine" something, you have to think about it and be critical - decide what information is true, important, and related to the question or problem you are trying to solve.

The first thing Barry does when he opens the home improvement store each day is to switch on the lighted "Open" sign. Today, the sign does not come on. How would Barry most efficiently determine if the problem with the power company or the sign itself?

• 
  Reset the circuit breaker in the basement

• Attempt to switch on another device to see if it has power

• Replace the bulb in the sign

• Call an electrician right away

Answer explanation

The key word is EFFICENTLY; when you do something efficiently, you use very little time or effort. Going to the basement, replacing the bulb, and calling an electrician will take a lot more time than just trying to switch on another device, which is the correct answer.

Laurette's supervisor asks her to select the best contractor for an upcoming construction job. Laurette narrows the choices down to four contractors. What is the process for making her decision?

• 
  Evaluate all factors needed and select the most suitable contractor based on the factors

• 
  Select the contractor who is the most affordable and explain why to your supervisor

• 
  Ask a coworker to help make the decision and select the best contractor using this rationale

• 
  Select a contractor who is closest in distance to the job location

Answer explanation

The question is really asking what is the BEST process to use to make the decision. While cost (affordability) and location (distance) might be important, the MOST important thing is that the contractor has/does what is NEEDED (the "factors needed"), so the correct answer is to "evaluate all factors needed".

Paul feels the schedule posted at his place of employment is confusing. He creates a new form and presents it to his manager, sharing his thoughts on how it could improve the current schedule. This shows Paul's:

• values

• integrity

• diversity awareness

• initiative

Answer explanation

"Taking initiative" refers to doing something without having to be asked. In the scenario, no one asked Paul to improve the schedule, he took initiative and just did it. This would also be an example of creativity and innovation because he came up with something NEW.