2012 T1 W8 Lecture Notes & Homework
Student’s Version
Note to Students:
This week’s lecture worksheet will be discussed during the PW lecture in T1W8.
BEFORE the lecture, attempt to answer the questions on your own, so that you will be able
to follow the lecture well.
1. This worksheet deals with Problem Selection & Phrasing

Good & bad topic choices

Categorizing the causes of a problem

Identifying the gap in current measures & selecting the right case study
1. During the lecture, examples of real life attempts to make a difference through
Planned Wellness will also be presented. You need to take notes on your own.
DO NOT use electronic recording devices or cameras.
------------------------------These exercises are based on the 2011 Task, “CONFLICT”.
Assume that the problem you have chosen to deal with is the conflicting demands on
their time faced by Singaporean working adults in Singapore.
Apply all that you learnt about SMUG, HOPE and ADORE in last week’s lecture.
2011 Task “Conflict”
Aim:
This project task asks you to show how an understanding of conflicts may be of help in
resolving conflicts in the future.
Task Requirements:

Identify one conflict (in politics, human interaction etc). Explain its main causes and
analyse the positive and negative effects which resulted.

Suggest how lessons learned might help resolve future conflicts.
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1. Identify the parts of the 1st bullet which might take up a lot of words but might be
irrelevant to the 2nd bullet (i.e. the selected problem or the proposal). How can this
waste of words be avoided?
2. Your group has drawn up the table below of things to do to fulfill the task
requirements. Identify which steps will earn marks for
-
Substantiation
Analysis & Evaluation
Generating Insightful Ideas
NOTE: Some steps may earn marks in more than one area.
What to do
Do this to
earn marks
for…
Craft a SMUG problem statement
-
Gather data and opinions by experts about the types & causes of
time-conflicts faced by working adults in your country
-
Justify which particular time-conflicts you are most concerned about.
-
Evaluate their causes based on comments & studies on the local
situation by experts.
-
Consider if there are other causes by analyzing studies by other
experts about time conflicts faced by working adults (i.e. not only
experts speaking about your country)
-
Analyse which causes need to be managed urgently because of a
possible Significant positive or negative consequence
-
Evaluate the effectiveness of current measures (e.g. are time
management workshops organized by bosses for their workers really
effective?
-
Identify the unaddressed gap (e.g. the biggest cause of time-conflict
is because workers have to please their over-demanding bosses at
the expense of time for family. So the unaddressed gap to be
addressed is actually bosses paying lip service to work-life balance.)
-
Justify the kind of outcome or objective you want to achieve through
your proposal
-
Justify the kind of Case study you want to use where unrealistic
conflicting demands (not necessarily involving time) were resolved
Identify the HOPE Case Study
-
Gather and analyse information on the RELEVANT positive &
negative effects of the way the Conflict in the Case Study was
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handled. These are RELEVANT to the problem situation that you are
addressing.
Frame the ADORE proposal
-
A multi-prong proposal that has short term impact (to raise
awareness) as well as longer term impact to correct some of the
wrong attitudes and behaviours
-
ADORE Reasons (supported with logic & research) to support the
Proposal; the mini-trial methodology; cite other experts & relevant
studies
-
Conduct a sensible Focus Group Discussion and evaluate outcomes
-
Refine the proposal after FGD; conduct a mini-trial with the relevant
target group after refining the FGD outcomes; analyse the mini-trial
outcomes.
Beyond the basic Proposal
-
-
-
Your group decides to briefly consider how to extend the proposal to
other related fields
OR
Your group anticipates briefly how to rejuvenate and refresh the
Proposal Ideas over the next few years as fashion or people’s tastes
may change.
Your group gives brief reasons for the above based on research &
logic
3. Look at the two problem statements below. They both fulfill SMUG requirements, but
one is better than the other. Select the better one. How can it be made even better?
NOTE: The samples below have been summarized. A good problem statement may
actually sometimes take up to 3 paragraphs.
Sample A
Sample B
According
to
sociologists,
Singaporeans are very busy people
with little time for social interaction.
Government ministers often remind
us that we need to work hard as the
cost of living is very high and
competition for jobs is extremely
keen, especially with the influx of
cheaper “foreign talent” and “foreign
labour”.
Working long hours to
impress the boss and attending skills
upgrading courses to keep up with
Singaporeans are very busy people with
little time for social interaction. They face
many conflicting demands on their time:
they need to work hard as the cost of
living is very high and competition for
jobs is extremely keen, especially with
the influx of cheaper “foreign talent” and
“foreign labour”. Working long hours to
impress the boss and attending skills
upgrading courses to keep up with new
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new development, Singaporeans
often make sacrifices in family life. If
something is not done to rectify this
problem, we are headed for a
catastrophic emergency situation.
development, Singaporeans often make
sacrifices in family life. If something is
not done to rectify this problem, we are
headed for a catastrophic emergency
situation.
Answer:
4. After your group crafts a properly researched Problem Statement and selects the
Case Study, you decide to write a linking paragraph to introduce the Case Study.
Which of the following would make a good linking paragraph between the problem
statement and the case study? Why?
Sample A
Sample B
Our chosen case study about
financial
planning
has
seen
considerable success, and this is
largely due to the solutions taking
into consideration the priorities of all
involved, before coming up with a
compromised resolution. This is
exactly what our problem requires as
well, as there are many conflicting
demands on the limited time that we
have. All of these demands are
important “stake-holders” in our lives
and to neglect any would result in a
decline in our quality of life, be it
work,
social
or
family
life.
Furthermore, the solutions employed
in the case study of financial planning
are somewhat reflective of what we
will be hoping to implement for our
problem, and therefore it would be
useful for us to evaluate these
solutions and apply them accordingly.
Our group intends to address the
difficulty that Singaporeans face in
managing their limited time by looking at
a preventive approach. We aim to focus
on helping teenagers while they are still
in school, to learn how to prioritise their
time and to cultivate the right values, so
that difficult choices about conflicting
demands will be easier to handle when
they are adults. A parallel situation where
this has been somewhat successfully
attempted is in how financial planners
advise clients on their investment
decision. In both cases, there are
conflicting demands and choices. We will
use the decision-making process of
financial planners as our case study to
teach students how to make decisions
regarding their management of time
among the conflicting demands.
Answer:
5. Besides the Case Study above, select ONE of the following as an alternative Case
Study for the problem statement in Q. 4 above. Justify your choice.
(a) How the United Nations settles conflicts – e.g. United Nations Assistance Mission for
Rwanda
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(b) How marriage conflicts are managed by Singapore Mediation Centre under the
Matrimonial Mediation Scheme
(c) How Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) mediates in conflicts between
consumer and retailer
(d) How People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) deals with conflicts
between human convenience in animal testing, consumption of endangered species
etc and the need for humane treatment of animals.
(e) How Singapore Sports School manages conflict between the need to nurture sporting
talent and need to ensure that students achieve academic qualifications
(f) Preservation of Monuments Board (Singapore) – deals with conflict between need to
conserve heritage and need to use land for expanding population.
Answer:
6. Study the groups of problems listed below. Identify which (if any) would be good
choices for PW problems, and explain why. Likewise, explain why the remaining
problems would not be good choices. There may be more than one correct answer in
some cases. The first has been done as an example.
Be inspired by the Peaceful Warrior’s wish based on advice given to you in your 1st
lecture:
The Peaceful Warrior’s Plaintive Wish
Let me have the discernment
To leave the problems I cannot change
Courage to propose solutions for those I can
And wisdom to know the difference.
Addressing one SMUG Problem at a time
Using one HOPEful Case Study
To frame an ADOREable proposal.
(a) Poverty in Singapore
(b) Lack of support for the destitute elderly in Singapore
Answer: (b) has more potential for something specific to be maximised or minimised. It
could be even more specific if it focused on lack of a particular type of support (e.g.
financial or medical or housing etc).
(a) Inaccessibility of health screening for the elderly in Singapore
(b) Aging population in Singapore
(c) Declining mental health/well-being of elderly in Singapore
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(d) Social exclusion of the elderly in Singapore
Answer:
(a) Lack of employment opportunities for the disabled in Singapore
(b) Neglect of the disabled in Singapore
Answer:
(a) Increasing number of PRs and foreign workers in Singapore
(b) Lack of interaction opportunities between foreigners and Singaporeans
Answer:
(a) Inadequate nutritional awareness in young Singaporeans
(b) Unhealthy lifestyles of Singaporeans
Answer:
(a) Apathy towards volunteerism in Singaporeans
(b) Lack of awareness of volunteer opportunities in Singapore
Answer:
(a) Environmental Issues
(b) Lack of green awareness amongst Singaporeans
Answer:
(a) Managing & Curing Depression among teenagers
(b) Raising awareness amongst Teenagers about Depression
Answer:
(a) Financial management lessons for final year students in ITE, the polytechnics and at
tertiary institutions.
(b) Addiction to shopping amongst young office workers.
Answer:
(a) Absence of Singaporean culture
(b) Insufficient appreciation for local art in Singapore
(c) Absence of art appreciation in Singapore
Answer:
(a) Increasing youth violence in Singapore
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(b) Lack of meaningful interaction time between parents and children
Answer:
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2012 Term 1 Week 8 Tutorial
Student’s version
2012 PW Tutorial T1W8: Defining the problem; selecting a related case study
Note to Students:
This tutorial exercise is based simply on your existing knowledge. In your actual Project
Work for the ‘A’ Level exams, you will need to do a lot of research to check all facts and
assumptions, and substantiate all your claims.
1. Basic characteristics of a problem (for PW@HCI): SMUG
Give examples for each point below

Something positive to be maximized for a Significant beneficial outcome. Think of
good things in life that you wish could be enjoyed by more people.
.
AND/OR

Something negative to be minimized for a Significant beneficial outcome. Recall a
point of view held by some people, or a situation faced by some people, or any aspect of
life that disturbs you.
AND

There is an Unaddressed Gap in the present measures.
2. A helpful way to think about problems.
In addressing a problem, the following steps are helpful:
(a) Select a problem situation that you care about. Do the research and provide logical
reasons why the problem exists. If possible, organise the causes or unaddressed
gaps or other details under sensible categories. E.g. logistics; perception; emotional;
monetary; ignorance; mindset; time etc.
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(b) What is currently being done? Research & identify an Unaddressed Gap. Show that,
if left unaddressed, it will result in a significant negative outcome.
(c) Select the category / categories of causes that you wish to address, and why.
(d) Suggest a parallel Case Study
Some worked examples:
Read the 2 outline examples below that are based on the SMUG-HOPE-ADORE
approach to PW. Which parts of the method below do you think you would find most
challenging? Which parts of this approach would earn you marks for the following
categories: Substantiation; Analysis & Evaluation; Generating Ideas?
Example 1:
A situation that will improve if something negative were minimized
What is the Problem
situation?
Decline in the practice of traditional cooking methods
Consequence: Loss of heritage and cultural appreciation (to be
supported with secondary research)
Significant
Consequence?
Research on the
Causes and classify
under categories if
possible
Which of the above
causes can be
addressed in a PW
proposal?
Research on what
has been done or is
currently done
- apathy
-ignorance; lack of information sources
-lack of time; busy lifestyle
apathy & ignorance can be addressed, BUT can’t do much about
time
- Annual Food festivals
-TV shows
-Home Econs lessons
BUT all these are inadequate because...
Unaddressed Gap?
The kind of Case
Study required.
A case study where attitudes toward something changed through an
event or campaign of some kind –
Possible Case
-Attitudes towards learning Mandarin
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Study to Use. Why?
-Attitudes about having large families (in the 1960s);
-Attitudes toward public hygiene;
Most
suitable/interesting
Case Study from the
list
Possible Proposal
-New enthusiasm for sports in Singapore after being offered
opportunity to host YOG.
Basic Proposal (to be refined with insightful ideas!):
-Study the publicity methods that successfully got Singaporeans
enthusiastic about hosting YOG.
-Adapt similar methods to get Singaporeans excited about
preserving food culture in order to be listed on UNESCO cultural
heritage list.
Example 2:
Situation that will improve if something positive were maximized
What is the Problem
situation?
Significant
Consequence?
Research on the
Causes and classify
under categories if
possible
Which of the above
causes can be
addressed in a PW
proposal?
Research on what
has been done or is
currently done
Unaddressed Gap?
The kind of Case
Study required.
Possible Case
Study to Use. Why?
Need to have a positive attitude toward exercise - Seeing exercise in
a positive light & not as a chore
Consequence: If not addressed, people will tend to neglect it as they
leave school and don’t have compulsory PE lessons. If addressed,
people will enjoy better health.
-Current school experience of exercise is not fun enough according
to students
-Opportunities for exercise in the adult world are not fun
Which would you like to address? What is the more Unaddressed
Gap? (Opportunities for exercise in adult world bec the former is
already currently constantly re-evaluated by MOE & PE teachers)
PE Lessons
Competitions e.g. New Paper Big Walk, Marathons etc
A case study where a situation that is associated with a business-like
atmosphere or attitude or a matter of necessity was re-framed as
something fun and enjoyable and non-competitive.
E.g. Apple computers, iPhone etc – supposedly for work but also
toys to be decorated & played with.
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Most
suitable/interesting
Case Study from
your list
Possible Proposal
Students to suggest…
3. In groups of 2-3, select a situation where there is something positive to be maximised
OR something negative to be minimised. Suggest how you would go about addressing
this ‘problem’ using the format above.
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