Tools and Techniques

Tools and Techniques

Management 350

Introduction

Decision-making is a key ingredient in how we work on a personal and professional level. Only by deciding based on reason do we take charge of our own lives. Just as people are different, so are their styles of decision-making. There are many approaches to decision-making, depending on the nature of the problem and the people involved in the problem. Brainstorming is one of the powerful decision-making tools that one can employ. This paper describes the usage of brainstorming in my workplace, and the outcome. This paper will further explain when one would not choose to use the brainstorming tool.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a tool used to stimulate and capture creative thoughts and ideas. It involves the creative generation of many ideas to solve a problem as stated by Bassham, Irwin, Nadone, and Wallace (2000). The brainstorming tool is an effective way to come to the right conclusion.

The Problem

A Delta Dome for the LOX Tank was missing in the plant at Huntington Beach, California. The Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Tank holds 250,000 gallons of liquid oxygen. It is constructed with a stainless steel inner tank. The Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Tank holds 850,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen. The LH2 tank is constructed the same way the LOX tank is with a stainless steel inner tank inside the outer tank (SLC 37, 2005). This was just the dome from the tank.

Identify and Clarify the Problem

The group must first decide if there is a problem. This was not hard considering the Vice President from the Delta Program put out the word for everyone to begin looking for the dome. This was the first step in researching the problem.

Gather Information

This is where we gain more knowledge about the problem and look for the possible reasons and resolutions. I happened to be a Manufacturing Coordinator at the time and I was assigned to locate the dome. I traced the steps of the manufacturing of the dome. I also talked with the machinists and management from the areas the dome was last seen. They supplied me with documentation regarding the dome. I wondered where the next step would have been and how we could lose a dome because they are so big in diameter.

Evaluate the Evidence

I knew where the information came from so I knew it was valid. The information represented different points of analysis. The information I gathered was accurate because I saw all the stages the dome went through. From the information I have collected the last stop was the Alodine tank in building 49. I went back to that building the next day and looked at all the domes I could find and none of them was the missing dome. I sat down with a few of my co-workers to brainstorm the information I had collected. It was interesting all the ideas we came up with, but none of the ideas led us to the dome.

Consider Alternatives and Implications

The next day we had another brainstorming session where we drew conclusions from all the evidence and information I had collected. We weighed all the conclusions and looked for the advantages and disadvantage of the circumstances. When we were through we submitted to our management the findings and conclusions we came up with. The management looked at the cost and consequences and told me to continue the search for a couple more days.

Choose and Implement the Best Alternative

I went back to the building where the dome was last seen and I came up with no clues. I went back to my office and looked at alternatives, but I was not ready to give up yet. I knew it had to be in the plant somewhere. The management had me tell them everything I had found out and I showed them my documentation. We did some brainstorming, but I know to the management it looked hopeless and they were all losing faith in anyone finding the dome.

They were ready to select an alternative and just eat the cost, but I told them I did not want to give up just yet. The dome was too big to lose and it had to be somewhere, but where? Well it was almost