CTE Problem-Solving and Decision-Making 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, the 'bones' represent:
- Possible effects of a single cause
- Categories of potential causes contributing to a problem (Correct answer)
- Steps in the troubleshooting process
- Individual team members responsible for a failure
Correct answer: Categories of potential causes contributing to a problem
Each 'bone' in an Ishikawa diagram represents a category of potential causes such as people, process, equipment, or environment.
Question 2: A technician applies a fix but the problem returns within 24 hours. What does this most likely indicate?
- The fix was applied incorrectly by another technician
- The root cause was not fully identified or addressed (Correct answer)
- The equipment is beyond repair and should be replaced
- The problem is unsolvable with current technology
Correct answer: The root cause was not fully identified or addressed
Recurring problems after a fix typically indicate that only a symptom was addressed, not the underlying root cause.
Question 3: Which problem-solving approach is most appropriate when time is critically limited and a perfect solution is unavailable?
- Satisficing — choosing a solution that is good enough given constraints (Correct answer)
- Optimizing — continuing to search until the best solution is found
- Deferring — waiting until more time is available
- Delegating — assigning the problem to another team
Correct answer: Satisficing — choosing a solution that is good enough given constraints
Satisficing involves selecting a sufficiently good solution when time or resource constraints prevent finding the optimal one.
Question 4: When conducting a failure analysis on a technical system, which step should come BEFORE any disassembly?
- Replacing suspected faulty components
- Documenting and photographing the system's current state (Correct answer)
- Ordering replacement parts
- Consulting the manufacturer for a refund
Correct answer: Documenting and photographing the system's current state
Documenting the system's state before disassembly preserves evidence and context critical to accurate failure analysis.
Question 5: What is the primary risk of using 'trial and error' as a problem-solving strategy in complex technical systems?
- It always takes longer than systematic approaches
- It may introduce new problems or damage components (Correct answer)
- It requires more documentation than other methods
- It is not recognized as a valid professional method
Correct answer: It may introduce new problems or damage components
Unguided trial and error in complex systems risks creating additional faults or masking the original problem.
Question 6: A CTE professional disagrees with a team decision but the group has reached consensus. The professional should:
- Implement the decision while formally documenting their concerns (Correct answer)
- Refuse to implement the decision until their view is accepted
- Undermine the decision quietly to prove their point
- Immediately escalate to override the team consensus
Correct answer: Implement the decision while formally documenting their concerns
Professionals can implement a group decision while formally recording dissent, ensuring accountability without obstructing progress.
Question 7: Which cognitive bias causes technical professionals to favor information that confirms their existing diagnosis?
- Anchoring bias
- Confirmation bias (Correct answer)
- Availability heuristic
- Dunning-Kruger effect
Correct answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias leads professionals to seek and prioritize evidence that supports their initial hypothesis while discounting contradictory data.
CTE Problem-Solving and Decision-Making 3
In a Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, the 'bones' represent: