You are a Finance Analyst with a key job responsibility to research, write and communicate company reports. A further responsibility is to set objectives and review your team intern's work. You've just read through this intern's latest report draft. It does not meet any of the report objectives you set last week. You have little time to improve this key report before it's due with your client.
What would be the most effective reaction to this situation?
Let your intern find out what happens when a client receives a sub-standard report.
Forward the draft report to other analysts in your department for their own comments.
Ask your own manager what would have happened if you hadn't checked this report.
Email your collated amends to the intern; offering to explain each one in further detail.
Correct answer is D
The MOST effective response, (D), offers your own time to improve the report. This goes beyond your day-to-day job responsibility of managing the intern's work. Unfortunately for you, on this one report, you do need to put even more time and effort than you'd be expected to.
The LEAST effective response is (A) since you already know the client will not be happy with the draft report as it stands. Your attitude could easily backfire and may result in a client complaint to your manager.
Answer response (B) is an expedient option. You pass over your day-to-day intern responsibility to the rest of the team. This also introduces further delay in the report's delivery to your client.
Answer option (C) may or may not earn you some kudos with your manager. Still, it deliberately makes your intern look bad in your manager's eyes.