The Missing Report
You are part of a three-person team responsible for compiling a weekly report on border incidents. The report is due to the regional director every Friday at 5 PM. It is now Thursday afternoon, and you discover that a critical section of the report, containing data on intercepted goods, is missing. You suspect that your colleague, Alex, who was responsible for that section, may have forgotten to include it. Alex is currently on leave and cannot be reached. Your other teammate, Jamie, is busy with a separate urgent task and cannot help. You have access to the raw data but compiling it will take at least four hours, and you have other duties to complete before the end of the day. The director is known for being strict about deadlines. You consider submitting the report without the section and noting it as pending, or staying late to compile the data yourself. Alternatively, you could ask for an extension.
1. What would you do and why?
Read the worked answer
The best course is to stay late and compile the missing data, if possible, to meet the deadline. This demonstrates commitment and ensures the director receives a complete report. However, if the data compilation is too complex or you lack access to some information, requesting a brief extension with a clear explanation is acceptable. Submitting an incomplete report without prior notice could be seen as negligent. Communicate proactively: inform the director of the situation as soon as you realise, and propose a solution (e.g., submitting by Saturday morning). The key is to take ownership and maintain transparency.
2. How would you handle the situation with Alex upon their return?
Read the worked answer
Approach Alex privately and non-confrontationally. Explain what happened and ask if there was a reason the section was missing. It may have been an honest mistake. Focus on finding a solution to prevent recurrence, such as implementing a checklist or a shared folder with reminders. Avoid blaming, but make clear the impact of the omission. This fosters teamwork and accountability.