Problem Solving
The purposeful act of observing a problem and deciding to solve it after considering solutions
What is problem solving?
The three governing principles of the U.S. Constitution.
What are federalism, enumerated powers, and checks and balances?
This is the process of thinking carefully about a subject or idea without letting feelings or opinions control your judgment.
What is critical thinking?
This “hands-off” approach is marked by avoiding decisions, delaying action, failing to develop followers, and abdicating responsibility.
What is laissez-faire leadership?
This follower style is passive, uncritical, lacks initiative, simply complies with orders, and does only what they are told.
What are Sheep?
A flight commander uses this when they must make a quick decision during a rapidly evolving exercise scenario with limited time for analysis.
What is the OODA loop?
The Student Reader describes this as a legally binding commitment between an officer and the U.S. government.
What is the Oath of Office
When evaluating information, this is the difference between a sentence that can be true or false and a sentence that gives a reason for a conclusion.
What is the difference between a statement and an argument?
This leadership style is based on exchanges between leaders and followers, such as rewards for meeting expectations or corrective action when standards are missed.
What is transactional leadership?
This follower style is active and willing to work, but is dependent on leadership direction and may not question orders, even when those orders conflict with standards or policy.
What are Yes People?
This is the phase Col Boyd identified as 'the most important' in the OODA Loop because it shapes how we attack the problem.
What is Orient
An officer conducting a health and welfare inspection without a warrant violates this amendment.
What is the 4th Amendment?
Name 3 Intellectual Standards and their associated questions.
Clarity “Could you elaborate further?”
Accuracy “How can we find out if that’s true?”
Precision “Could you give more details?”
Relevance “How does this relate to our issue?”
Depth “What are the root causes of this issue, and does this address them?”
Breadth “Do we need to consider another point of view here?”
Logic “Does this really make sense?”
Significance “Which idea or concept is most important?”
Fairness “What justifies my thinking?”
This transformational leadership behavior occurs when a leader motivates followers, builds team spirit, communicates a vision, and inspires them to exceed expectations.
What is Inspirational Motivation?
This follower style is capable of independent and critical thinking, but is passive, often cynical, and criticizes without offering constructive input.
What are Alienated Followers?
This PPSM step is being skipped in the following scenario: A maintenance unit keeps fixing the same aircraft discrepancy every few weeks. Their solutions work temporarily, but the issue always returns.
What is step 8 - Standardize Successful Processes?
The amendment that affirms that rights not explicitly listed in the Constitution are not automatically denied to the people.
What is the 9th Amendment?
This type of operation targets a person’s will, beliefs, thinking, and psychology to influence decision-making, often through incomplete, inaccurate, or emotionally charged information.
What are cognitive domain operations?
A flight keeps failing to meet a recurring deadline, and most members assume the only solution is to “work harder.” Instead of blaming individuals or simply enforcing the old process, the flight commander asks the team to challenge that assumption, examine the problem from multiple angles, propose nontraditional solutions, and disagree professionally without fear of punishment. This is the transformational FRL behavior being applied.
What is Intellectual Stimulation?
An Airman is identified as an Alienated Follower in Kelley’s model. These are the traits or behaviors that Airman would most likely exhibit. (3)
What are high critical thinking, low participation, independence, cynicism, criticism without constructive input, and distance from the team or mission?
The 8 steps of the PPSM model in order.
What is clarify and validate problem, break down the problem, set improvement targets, determine root causes, see countermeasures, see countermeasures through, analyze results, standardize successful practices?
Capt Jones is advising an Airman who is about to make a statement to investigators. Which amendment most obligates Capt Jones to intervene and advise the Airman of their rights?
A flight commander sees poor performance during drill and immediately thinks, “They just don’t care.” Before counseling the flight, he stops and asks, “What belief am I bringing into this situation, and is that belief fair or balanced?” This officer is examining this element of reasoning.
What are assumptions?
A flight commander has three different Airmen with three different problems: one Airman keeps making repeated standards mistakes, one Airman does not feel connected to the mission, and one Airman performs best when expectations and rewards are clearly explained. What aspects of FRL should he apply and how?
He should apply Management by Exception-Active, Inspirational Motivation, and Contingent Reward.
A flight commander has three struggling followers. One Airman waits to be told exactly what to do and shows little initiative. Another Airman enthusiastically agrees with every decision but does not question whether the decision is right. A third Airman is smart and sees problems early, but has become cynical, criticizes the team, and rarely offers solutions. If there is no immediate safety issue, which follower should the commander prioritize for development first, and how should the commander move that follower toward effective followership?
Who is the Alienated Follower, and the commander should move them toward Effective Followership by rebuilding trust, addressing concerns privately, requiring constructive input instead of passive criticism, giving them ownership of a task, and encouraging active participation with critical thinking.