Task: Real-Life Creative Problem Solving
Come up with an original and creative solution for the following real-world problem:
The Upper Management of Acme Company has been holding wage increases to a 6 percent level. The decision to hold wage increases came about from an effort to reduce product twice in the past year due to increased shipping costs of materials, and upper management does not feel that Acme can remain competitive if there are any future increases in the cost of their product. Unfortunately, the engineering job market in the area stands at about 12 jobs for every one trained engineer. Because of this, recruiters are cropping up and are enticing Acme's engineers with better jobs and better benefits. As of late, turnover among Acme's engineers has increased and productivity has decreased. Also, there is a considerable grumbling among current engineers about Acme's policy on wage increases. Mr. Wentworth, an executive vice president, has directed Scott to improve the situation in the engineering department. Mr. Wentworth feels that much of the dissatisfaction is based upon the recruiters' enticements of better opportunities in other places. The concern at Acme is to maintain a quality group of engineers at a high level of productivity. Management at Acme does not know how to solve this problem..

Response: I think they should pay more
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: They will just have to come to the reality that they must offer higher wages and better benefits than their competitors, or risk losing their workers.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: Begin to slowly reduce the amount of wage being given out, especially to "lazy" worker. Due to the increase in consumer goods, it may create a conflict for pay but this will only last for a minimal amount of time. Propose an initiative of a higher end position in order to get a pay raise which would allow for them to work harder to receive the pay they deserve.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 23

Response: The engineers should create/join a union to protect them from big corporations like Acme so that they can get the salary they deserve while having a healthy work-life balance.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 32

Response: Acme needs to be upfront with their employees and pay their employees. This will increase productivity and moral within the company.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: Seems like you have to take a risk and increase wages or make wage increase more likely so better engineer's stay and they will hopefully help the company increase there margins more. Another option in to try to hire new engineers and entice them with a good salary so they can fill in the engineers that leave.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: make all the check out places self checkout so you don't need cash register people and they will have more money to give their engineers good benefits
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 41

Response: Acme should have milestone rewards for their engineers. For example, they could give raises after certain amounts of time working there, or they could give raises for completing certain tasks well. This would increase morale and potentially drive new workers in if they hear about how well Acme treats their workers.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 23

Response: The company needs to increase wages and benefits if they want to keep their employees. This is basic capitalism. The company could decrease costs by having manufacturing in developing and undeveloped countries.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: Though other companies can offer a wage increase, there have to be certain benefits that the company did not think of. For example, offer more vacation days and mental health days to employees. Offer more opportunities for working overtime in which you will continue to get paid. Create discounts on food from their shop for their employees. For every week completed as an employee, you can take home 1 free item of your choosing from the shop as long as it is under a certain specified monetary amount.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 23

Response: Offer training from lower class employees to get qualifications to fill these positions. If they are from lower positions, moving to these higher positions would be a pay increase. They would also be more engaged in working because there would be a sense of loyalty. The people who get this training/education may have a required amount of time that they need to stay in their position.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 32

Response: hire employees that will be worth increased pay
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: They can create better incentives or provide other forms of wage increase such as in stock in the company in order to reduce the appeal of the headhunters offers.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: Upper management should make sure that their employees are having a good time at work and the work environment is a safe place to work. He should arrange a trip with all the employees and brainstorm ideas from people in the working area and not management because they are the ones being affected by this and their productivity is key
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 23

Response: The writing of handwritten and personalized letters to the engineers thanking them for their high quality work and bonuses as able to
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 32

Response: I'm slightly confused with why this is a problem, if the wage is increasing. If the wage is increasing, shouldn't the employees be satisfied? Acme should explain the situation and tell the employees how it is. Having a job meaning being productive at sed job. Therefore, if the employees refuse to be productive and do their work, their wages will decrease and be at risk of losing their jobs.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: Employ community-building and loyalty-building practices like weekly pizza parties and bowling nights, since employees are more likely to stay if they feel supported as people and if they like the people they are working with.
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 10

Response: Find out what acmes competitors are doing to keep their prices competitively low and see if Acme can use those tactic to their advantage
Human originality rating (0-100 scale): 32