Multiple choice

Your colleague who was heading a project had an accident and cannot continue with it. The ‘Departmental Administrative Head’ wants you to head this project in addition to your present assignments. This is going to increase your work burden, as you would be required to timely complete your colleagues project as well as your present assignment. The ‘Head’ has called you in his office for discussion on this issue. What will your response be?

  1. Communicate acceptance of the additional responsibility.

  2. Suggest another colleagues name as the project head and intimate preoccupation with existing assignments as reason for this.

  3. Refuse the additional work as your current assignments are sufficient to keep you busy.

  4. Accept the additional responsibility subject to sanction of additional manpower. However, you are also aware that this is not likely to be sanctioned because of severe manpower shortages in the department.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

2.5 marks for choice (a) 1.5 marks for choice (b) 1 mark for choice (d) 0 marks for choice (c) Rationale/ Reasoning (a) Exercising option (a) indicates your readiness to undertake the additional responsibility despite the knowledge of work burden it places on you. (b) By exercising option (b) you are refraining from shouldering additional responsibility. The only positive aspect of this option is your suggestion of another colleague who can handle the work. (d) Asking for additional manpower for additional work is a fair demand. But knowing that there is acute shortage of man power, this demand tantamounts to refusal to share the additional burden. (c) Option (c) shows your unwillingness to share additional work of colleagues/organisation. As such it is an improper choice. Values/ Principles tested  Readiness to undertake additional responsibility/ work despite the burden it places on you.

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