Reference no: EM133330110

Case Study: Paul is a twenty-five year old college student who hopes to attend medical school. After graduating from high school, he went to work in his father's building supply business. Although he did well in the business, he ultimately decided that the business was his father's dream and that he had to pursue a dream of his own. This realization prompted him to enroll in college and take up a pre-med major.

One night while studying for his medical school entrance examinations, he receives a desperate phone call from his mother informing him that his father has had a heart attack and is in a coma. Paul returns home immediately and discovers that his father is still comatose and that his prognosis is unclear at this time. In addition, his mother is worried about their financial situation if the father remains ill, since the building supply business depends almost entirely on the father's overseeing operations, giving estimates, and making deals. What should Paul do?

Questions: Use the five steps in the problem solving process to solve Paul's problem.

Step 1. What is the Problem?

Step 2. What are the Alternatives?

(List as many alternatives as possible)

Step 3. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of each Alternative?

(Remember to indicate specifically which alternative you are addressing. Do not combine

The advantages and disadvantages of each alternative together. Keep them separated.)

Step 4. What's the solution?

(The possible solution(s) should be chosen from the list of alternatives in step 2.)

Step 5. How Well is the Solution Working?

(How well do you think the solution(s) you proposed will work? You can always

modify your solution in step 4. That where your sense of judgement and evaluation come in.