ASQ Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) — Question 31

Two employees separately submitted the same idea to a company’s formal suggestion system on the same date. Under the rules of the system the employee who submits an idea is to receive a portion of the financial savings in the first year, which for this idea will be a very substantial amount. However, each employee claims to have come up with the idea and insists that the other stole it and submitted it after a conversation they’d had about a processing problem in their department. Neither wants to share the reward. The company should:

Answer options

• A. Change the suggestion system to be available only to teams.
• B. Call in an arbitrator to settle the issue.
• C. Insist that the two employees negotiate with each other until they reach an agreement.
• D. Ask others in the department how they believe the reward should be distributed.

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is C because it encourages collaboration and resolution between the two employees directly, which can help maintain a positive workplace environment. Options A and B do not address the interpersonal issue directly, while D could lead to further complications and does not guarantee a fair outcome.