Question 1

Workplace judgment — urgent help request: While you are working on a routine assignment, a coworker asks for a few minutes of help to complete an assignment with top priority that must be finished immediately. What is the best action?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Situational judgment questions assess prioritization, teamwork, and organizational awareness. When a true “top priority, must be completed immediately” task appears, well-run teams momentarily reallocate effort to protect the organization’s critical path, especially if your current work is routine and can briefly wait. Given Data / Assumptions: Your current task is routine (non-urgent). The coworker’s assignment is urgent and top priority, with immediate deadline. A “few minutes” of help is requested—limited scope intervention. Helping will unblock an immediate organizational need. Concept / Approach: Apply priority management: address time-sensitive, high-impact work first. Briefly assist the urgent task to completion, then resume your routine task. This approach maximizes team throughput and meets immediate commitments. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify the highest-priority work stream: the coworker’s urgent deliverable.2) Evaluate the opportunity cost: your assignment is routine and can tolerate a short delay.3) Provide targeted help to complete the urgent assignment.4) Return immediately to your own task once the urgent item is secured. Verification / Alternative check: Organizations frequently employ “swarm to green” practices—briefly focusing multiple hands on the most time-critical work. Your swift assistance prevents a potential miss without materially harming your schedule. Why Other Options Are Wrong: (a): Deflecting wastes time and shirks team responsibility. (b): Delays the urgent task; “as soon as I finish” may be too late. (d): Ignores stated priority, risking organizational failure. None of these: Not needed; (c) is clearly optimal. Common Pitfalls: Confusing personal task ownership with organizational priorities. Underestimating the compounding impact of brief delays on truly urgent work. Final Answer: Help her to complete her assignment and then go back to your work.

Question 2

Public safety judgment — ambulance vs parade: A police officer has orders not to allow cars to cross the route while the parade is in progress. An ambulance on an emergency run attempts to cross while the parade is passing. What should the officer d…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Competing orders and emergencies require prioritizing life safety over routine directives. Police discretion exists to protect life; a standing order about traffic control for a parade yields to immediate medical emergencies. Given Data / Assumptions: Active parade; default rule: no vehicles may cross. Ambulance is on an emergency run, where delay could endanger life. Officer can influence parade flow and traffic at the crossing. Concept / Approach: Hierarchy of priorities: life safety > property > convenience/ceremony. The officer should use discretion to briefly interrupt the parade to expedite the ambulance crossing, minimizing total disruption while maximizing public safety. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Recognize the emergent medical priority.2) Temporarily halt parade movement to clear a corridor.3) Direct the ambulance safely across the route.4) Resume the parade immediately after the crossing. Verification / Alternative check: Calling headquarters (a) introduces critical delay; detouring (c) adds ten minutes; detaining the ambulance (d) directly conflicts with life-safety imperatives. A brief interruption (b) best balances safety and order. Why Other Options Are Wrong: (a): Creates decision latency dangerous in emergencies. (c): An avoidable long delay with potential medical harm. (d): Violates the duty to preserve life when discretion is available. None of these: Not applicable; (b) is appropriate. Common Pitfalls: Over-literal obedience to non-emergency orders in the face of a life-threatening scenario. Underestimating the impact of added minutes in medical emergencies. Final Answer: Stop the parade long enough to permit the ambulance to cross the street.

Making Judgments Questions