PSEE Problem Solving and Judgment 2

Question 1

You are assigned a project with a two-week deadline. After one week, you realize it will take three weeks total. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Tell your supervisor immediately that more time is needed.

Answer

Continue working and hope to finish on time.

Answer

Submit incomplete work at the deadline.

Answer

Reassign the project to a colleague without informing your supervisor.

Question 2

A new policy is introduced that conflicts with a procedure you have been following for two years. What is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Follow the new policy immediately and inform your team.

Answer

Continue following the old procedure since it has worked well.

Answer

Wait to see which procedure your colleagues adopt.

Answer

Ask your supervisor to exempt you from the new policy.

Question 3

You are processing a grant application and realize the applicant is a personal friend. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Declare a conflict of interest and recuse yourself from handling the file.

Answer

Process it quickly to help your friend.

Answer

Process it but apply stricter criteria to be fair.

Answer

Ask a colleague to review it without disclosing the relationship.

Question 4

Your team is under pressure and a colleague is clearly overwhelmed and making errors. What is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Offer to help with some of their tasks and, if the situation persists, raise it with the supervisor.

Answer

Criticize the colleague's work in a team meeting.

Answer

Take over all of their work without telling them.

Answer

Report them to HR for poor performance immediately.

Question 5

You notice that a process you follow daily wastes significant time and could be improved. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Document the issue and suggest the improvement to your supervisor.

Answer

Ignore it, as changing procedures is not your responsibility.

Answer

Change the procedure on your own without informing anyone.

Answer

Wait until the annual performance review to mention it.

Question 6

A member of the public submits an application with a technical error that disqualifies it under strict rules, but they clearly meet the program's intent. What is the best action?

Accepted Answer

Contact the applicant to explain the error and advise them on how to resubmit correctly.

Answer

Reject the application strictly per the rules without further action.

Answer

Approve the application by ignoring the technical error.

Answer

Forward the application to a supervisor and recommend approval.