Problem Sensitivity and Judgment Flashcards
7 cards from real New Jersey Civil Service Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Problem Sensitivity and Judgment flashcards as text
An employee observes that a coworker frequently arrives late and leaves early without recording the absences. What is the MOST appropriate action?
Answer: Report the time abuse to a supervisor
Time abuse affects public service delivery and fairness; reporting it to a supervisor is the appropriate professional response.
While processing applications, an employee notices an unusual pattern suggesting possible fraud in several submissions. The employee should:
Answer: Flag the applications and report the pattern to a supervisor or fraud unit
Flagging suspicious patterns and reporting them through proper channels allows for a formal investigation without bias.
A citizen calls to complain that they received incorrect information from your agency that caused them financial harm. The BEST first response is to:
Answer: Apologize, document the complaint, and escalate to a supervisor
Acknowledging the concern, documenting it, and escalating it ensures the issue is properly addressed and the citizen is treated with respect.
You are a team leader and notice that one team member is consistently taking credit for work done by other team members in reports. You should:
Answer: Address the behavior privately with the team member first
Addressing performance or conduct issues privately first gives the employee a chance to correct the behavior without unnecessary escalation.
An employee is given a deadline they believe is unrealistic for a critical project. The BEST course of action is to:
Answer: Communicate concerns about the timeline to the supervisor before the deadline
Proactively communicating timeline concerns allows supervisors to adjust expectations, add resources, or re-prioritize before a problem occurs.
During a staff meeting, an employee realizes that a decision being made is based on inaccurate data they know to be wrong. The employee should:
Answer: Interrupt and correct the data immediately and respectfully
Correcting inaccurate data in a timely and respectful manner prevents decisions with negative consequences from being implemented.
A supervisor notices that one employee is consistently slower than peers at completing work, even after training. The MOST appropriate next step is to:
Answer: Have a performance counseling session and document a performance improvement plan
A documented performance improvement plan is the standard civil service approach to addressing persistent performance issues fairly.