Attachment_4,_Statement_of_Objectives.pdf

Problem Solving Personal Preference Assessment

Statement of Objectives

The Joint Special Operations University currently teaches a Special Operations Forces Creative Problem Solving course of instruction under the SOCOM Chief of Staff’s USSOCOM Staff Education Program (USEP). In support of the course objectives, JSOU requires a personal assessment that can be administered to students that effectively measures their thinking style and preferences. It should enlighten the student on how they approach different stages of a creative problem solving process and teach leaders how best to assemble problem solving teams to achieve best results given specific parameters and team members personal preferences.

JSOU also teaches an Introduction to Special Operations Acquisition Course sponsored by the SOCOM Acquisition Authority. This course stresses the use of acquisition processes and teams to create solutions to complex requirements. One of the first steps in this process is to build a competent work team from different development areas that is capable of thinking creatively. More importantly, they must be able to clearly understand the problem, develop multiple solution ideas, refine solutions, and implement a course of action.

The individual assessment to support these courses should be computer based, easy to access, and easy use. The assessment should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and results should be available to the instructor immediately. The assessment tool must be based on empirical research and have a reliability rating of greater than .70 percent. Results must address the student’s preferences in relation to clarifying a problem, creating ideas, developing and implementing solutions. It must be easy to understand and provide the instructors and students feedback on student preferences with regard to where their energies or preferences lie in the creative decision making process.

The assessment must also provide the instructor with the tools and training necessary to convey to the student or assesse what the assessment says in general, above them specifically, and how their personal profiles effect or impact upon a problem solving team.