Problem Solving Case Study

School Transporation Time Management

Problem Solving by the District Transportation Department

Management Issues.

Several management issues are presenting at the Public School Transportation Department. These issues are of concern to management and human resources as they are impacting workplace harmony, efficiency, and productivity. The Human Resources Department has collaborated with management to ensure that practices related to the assignment of overtime and the assignment of routes to drivers comply with the district's rules and regulations. Specifically, these issues have become a concern as employees can bring claims of discrimination based on practices that may be characterized by favoritism.

The collaborative efforts of the Human Resources Department and the Director of School Transportation have resulted in the following standards related to the assignment of routes and overtime:

Routing assignments shall be based on seniority. Favored routes are determined on several bases: Some routes have been historically preferred bus routes due to a propensity of beneficial attributes. These attributes include less time to conclude a run, less dense traffic to navigate, less challenging student riders, and runs that conclude earlier in the day. Other preferred routes may include extra-curricular and activity bus runs, and the shorter day special education routes that include bus monitors and aides assigned to individual students.

2. Overtime is frequently related to the type of bus route that is assigned. Examples include routes that transport high school students, as these incorporate extra-curricular and activity bus runs. Also, inclement weather and the absence of bus drivers due to illness or leave will sometimes force drivers into overtime. Whenever possible, overtime will be assigned to bus drivers on a seniority basis.

3. Assignments subject to seniority…