Hellen Michell Lara Munca

2503965

Workshop 2: Problem Solving

English

Teacher:

Carlos Guerra

Centro de Servicios Financieros- CSF

2022
 PROBLEM SOLVING
ALTERNATE PATHS AND OPPORTUNITIES/MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS /STRATEGIES
(SHORT & LONG
TERM)

This workshop will help you recognize vocabulary about problems that can be sorted out
with multiple solutions, find out opportunities in problems to get positive outcomes and some
strategies according to terms.

Objective: From the development of these activities, you will be able to analyze, manage
and sort out a problem, taking into account different strategies and suitable solutions at your
workplace.

1. Work in groups and discuss the following questions:

❖ Do you consider strategies are important to sort out a problem? Why?

Problem solving strategies can be defined as the skills of a learner that influence the
way he processes information to achieve a goal.

❖ Is it easier to find different solutions for a problem at work, in a collective or individual

way?

Many times it is easier to solve a problem collectively, it also depends on the problem
because if it is a personal problem with friends or something similar, it can be solved
individually.

❖ When do you consider a problem as a possible opportunity to get good outcomes?

Explain your answer.

Conflicts are an opportunity for growth since, when we are able to resolve them, our
trust in the relationship increases. This is due to the security that comes from
knowing that this relationship can survive disagreements and the different challenges
that may arise.

2. Individual work: Describing problems

Look for the meaning of the following adjectives and expressions:

critical -insignificant -irrelevant -minor -ongoing - persistent -severe - trivial

unimportant - urgent - quick-fix - long shot - hiccup -defect -obstacle

❖ Critical= Crítico = Perteneciente o relativo a la crítica. Opinión crítica.

❖ Insignificant – Insignificante = De escasa importancia o relevancia.
 ❖ Irrelevant – Irrelevante = Que carece de relevancia o importancia.
❖ Minor – Menor = Que es inferior a otra cosa en cantidad, intensidad o calidad.
❖ Ongoing - En marcha Persistent – Persistente = Que persiste.
❖ Severe – Grave = Que tiene o puede tener peligro o consecuencias perjudiciales.
❖ Trivial – Trivial = Que carece de importancia, interés o novedad. Unimportant - Sin
importancia
❖ Urgent – Urgente = Que urge o corre prisa.
❖ Quick-fix - Arreglo rapido
❖ Long shot - Tiro largo
❖ Hiccup - Hipo
❖ Defect – Defecto = Carencia o imperfección de las cualidades propias de algo.
❖ Obstacle – Obstáculo = Impedimento, estorbo.

➔ Which five adjectives or expressions describe problems or issues that usually need
serious attention?

The five adjectives or expressions that require attention would be Critical, severe,
urgent, defect, obstacle.

➔ Which adjectives or expressions describe issues that don’t deserve much attention?

Adjectives or expressions that do not deserve much attention are insignificant,

irrelevant, minor, unimportant.

3. Skills practice: Do the following activities to practice the learnt vocabulary and English
structures.

3.1.Listening Practice: steps to identify possible solutions to a problem

The actions focused to find out the accurate steps to get problem solved, are divided into a
variety of strategies from which it is possible to select the best option, according to the
context. That’s why through this task, you will get familiar with some vocabulary you will find
in the video below.

Write down a short definition for each word or expression:

• Identify : to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what that person or
thing is; to recognize a problem, need, fact, etc. and to show that it exists example = The
research will be used to identify training needs.
• Develop : to (cause something to) grow or change into a more advanced, larger, or
stronger form; If you develop an illness or problem, or if it develops, you start to suffer from
it; example = The study showed that one in twelve women is likely to develop breast cancer.
• Execute : to do or perform something, especially in a planned way: example =
to execute a deal/plan
• Assess :to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of something:
Example = The insurers will need to assess the flood damage.
• Goal : an aim or purpose Example = Our goal is for the country to be fully independent
within two years.
• Milestone :a time when a piece of work must be finished or something must be achieved:
In Monday mornings, we would set milestones for the week.
• Analytics :in a way that involves studying or examining things in detail, in order to
discover more about them: example = The research is analytically rigorous/sloppy.
• Surveys :an examination of opinions, behaviour, etc., made by asking people questions:
A recent survey found/revealed/showed that 58 percent of people did not know where their
heart is.
• Fishbone diagram :A diagram that is used to examine the causes of something,
especially of a problem , that has the shape of a fish's skeleton
• Rubric :a set of instructions, especially on an exam paper, usually printed in a different
style or colour
• Strengths :the ability to do things that need a lot of physical or mental effort: Example
She had the strength and stamina to take the lead and win the gold medal.
• Weaknesses :a particular part or quality of someone or something that is not good or
effective: Example = His main weakness as a manager is his inability to delegate.
• Threats :a suggestion that something unpleasant or violent will happen, especially if a
particular action or order is not followed
• Measurable :able to be measured: Example It is important to set achievable but
measurable goals for employees.
• Resources :something that can be used to help you
• Full-blown :in its most developed or advanced form
• Pros and cons :the advantages and disadvantages of something, especially something
that you are considering doing
• Maximize :to make something as great in amount, size, or importance as possible
• Test :a way of discovering, by questions or practical activities, what someone knows, or
what someone or something can do or is like
• Symptom :any single problem that is caused by and shows a more serious and general
problem
• Troubleshooting :the process of solving problems, esp. complicated problems in a
system: Example = He’s very good at troubleshooting because he knows these computers
as well as anybody.
• Actionable :If something is actionable, it gives someone a good reason for accusing
someone in a law court

Now, watch the following video on the link1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=QOjTJAFyNrU and answer these questions:

★ What does the acronym I.D.E.A stand for?

the creative problem-solving process that involves generating and detailing ideas by
the entrepreneur. After collecting all information relevant to the problem, the
entrepreneur lists as many causes of the problem as possible

★ What is the importance of symptoms recognition when solving problems?

It involves finding a way of acting and thinking appropriate to a situation in which

there is a series of uncertain or unclear events. In general, what we do is develop
alternatives, based on the elements we have.
 ★ According to the video, is it useful to organize the problem in a graphic way?
Why?

They allow you to establish the main ideas and list them hierarchically. In this way,
everything will be well organized and it will be easier to understand, both for you and
for the work team.

★ Which step evidences the variety of possible solutions to a problem

considering its causes?

It is buying solutions and determining which is the best depending on the cause and
choosing the one that is suitable for our investment and resources.

★ How can we compare or determine the best solution or path to follow to solve a
problem?

Looking at the pros and cons

★ What is your opinion about this problem-solving model?

My opinion is that it is very good since it is organized and we can put all our ideas in
a single problem and it gives a good result.

★ Share your answers with your partners ask/answer questions.

3.2.Reading Practice: 3 types of problem solvers

Work in pairs to read the following text. Before reading the text, discuss the following
questions:

➔ What do you understand for a problem solver?

The ability to identify a problem, take logical steps to find a desired solution, and
monitor and evaluate the implementation of that solution.

➔ Which do you think is the most convenient form to solve a problem?

Look for similarities with other problems.

Reduce the complicated to the simple. and think of a solution

Now, work in pairs to socialize the information given in the text and answer the
following questions:

❖ Why is it important to be an “initiative taking” problem solver?

 Initiative is the ability to be resourceful, problem-solve, and work without always
being told what to do. It requires resilience and determination. People who show
initiative show that they can think for themselves and take action when necessary.

❖ What was the piece of advice about the strategy provided in the text?

the advice they give us is that they want to see to a person who is willing to make
him take the initiative, does not do anything carelessly, and is willing to ask
questions.

❖ according to the text, is there any specific process to solve problems?

if it is Identify the problem, to analize the situation, Implement the solution

❖ What type of problem solver are you? Why? Explain your answer.

Los Independientes, and Los pensadores, I always use it when I feel a problem

❖ Share your answers with the rest of the class.

3.3.Writing Practice: paragraph about what you would do to solve a problem.

Work in pairs and practice the following conversation about a problem at workColleague

A: Hi Daniel, it looks like we have a serious problem. I'm at the conference and I've got
my presentation on in 25 minutes but the laptop has just crashed on me and I've lost all my
PowerPoint slides!
Colleague B: Good grief! Are you saying it won't even start up?
Colleague A: Yes, exactly.
Colleague B: OK, let's not panic. I don't suppose you made a backup of the data?
Colleague A: Yes, I did actually. There should be a CD on my desk.
Colleague B: Yes, I can see it from here. Look, what I suggest is that you get on to the
organisers and have them reschedule your presentation. I'll send down my assistant with a
replacement laptop.
Colleague A: I'm not sure about that idea. The conference centre seems quite far from our
office. How long will it take her to get here?
Colleague B: Only about 30 minutes, assuming the traffic doesn't hold her up. So, the best
thing would be to arrange your presentation for 3 o'clock.
Colleague A: Right, that makes sense. I'll go and sort it out right away.

Now, analyze the following conversation a do the following activities

Part a: Now identify and write the parts or expressions from the dialogues in the following
categories:

Declaring a problem: the problem is that Daniel's colleague has a conference and his
computer is damaged and not how to put the presentation slides
Finding out more details: they have a copy of the slides on a CD but it is very far from
where the colleague is.
Diagnosing a problem: the computer was damaged; the slides need to be presented and
the CD takes longer than expected.
Making a suggestion: they have a backup copy on a cd but it takes a long time to arrive,
or ask the favor of one of the assistants who schedules the slides but they have to send
them and it takes a long time.
Accepting a suggestion: Send the laptop and postpone the conference to 3 o'clock in the
afternoon.
Rejecting a suggestion: ask one of the attendees to schedule the slides for a favor.
Taking action: to solve it, wait for the laptop and postpone the conference until the laptop
arrives with the copy of the slide.

Part b: Write in at least one paragraph what you would have done to sort out this problem,
try to use new vocabulary and expressions learnt.

RTA= What I would have done in this case, is that I would have looked for a borrowed
computer since it takes time to get to the computer where I had the copy of the slides, so
starting to make the slides again maybe it would take less than waiting for the computer and
I can do the conference at the estimated time.

4. Extension activities: the extension activities will help you improve your performance in
the topics. You need to reach at least five hours of practice on your own. To do some
Simple past review visit:

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_mix2.htm