Assignment 2A - Bug List - Darren Liebegott

Assignment 2A - Bug List

1. While being seated at one of my favorite restaurants, I was taken to a booth that was practically in the kitchen. Why it exists: Restaurants try to fit in tables in odd locations for particularly busy nights.
2. After scheduling a 10 am tee time at a golf course I frequent, I was told there would be an hour and a half wait before I could tee off at my regularly scheduled time. Why it exists: Golf course management decided to schedule regular tee times directly after a major tournament, resulting in all tee times for the day being backed up.
3. A particular Dunkin' Donuts that I go to likes to clean their machines 30 minutes before closing, which means that you cannot order frozen drinks at the end of their store hours. Why not close a half an hour earlier then! Why it exists: Management is trying to cut down the time it takes to clean the store and end the shift at the expense of customer orders.
4. Restrooms at high school sporting events are not kept up with the same for different sports resulting in unsanitary conditions. Why it exists: School boards do not feel the need to provide the same services to events that do not draw in as much revenue.
5. Cable and internet companies often charge their existing customers more the longer they have them, and give new customers great deals. Why it exists: These companies are trying to capitalize on their existing customer base while adding revenue through newer customers.
6. Many companies hire mid-level managers in rather than training their workforce from within to be able to handle these positions, despite all of the evidence from top organizations that claim that training is the key to growth in today's competitive market. Why it exists: Companies lack the interior strength to set in place proper training programs, and wonder why they never make it to Fortune 100 status.
7. People who litter in fast food parking lots. Why it exists: People are too lazy to park and walk five feet to a trash can so they throw their trash out of the car window for someone else to pick up.
8. All of the restaurants in Gainesville switching to paper straws. Why it exists: This is an attempt to lessen the carbon footprint of the surrounding areas, which is a highly debated issue.
9. Smokers that throw their cigarette butts out of their car windows. Why it exists: It is simply nicer for the smoker to litter than to keep their cigarette butts in their own position.
10. When the city decides to repave many different projects in town without actually finishing any, leaving much road construction that has been started but not finished. Why it exists: Misallocation of funds by municipalities that compete to finish one project while concurrently starting another.
11. I recently sent an email to a work colleague that was obviously about an issue that pertained to our individual department. This individual proceeded to forward the email to members of upper management and people in other departments rather than professionally dealing with it internally. Why it exists: Employees look for opportunities to gain status by shedding light on problems rather than being part of solutions.
12. Many managers have an "open door policy," meaning that their door is always open for any concerns. However, many of these managers don't play an active role in the daily operations and have little to contribute in the way of advice. Why it exists: As a means to dodge responsibility on a daily basis rather than being actively engaged in the work culture.
13. While jogging around my neighborhood I have noticed the same dog owner that allows his dog to use everyone else's yard as an outhouse without cleaning it up afterwards. Why it exists: Some people do not take responsibility for cleaning up after their pets messes, somehow feeling that it is in some way "natural" for them to do this in other people's yards.
14. I was recently waiting in a long line at Walmart one day, and the man in front of me was having an incredibly loud conversation on his cell phone while waiting in line. Why it exists: While this type of behavior can be considered a violation of personal space, there is no law or ordinance that prohibits it in stores.
15. The steady increase of grocery store items in price is not proportionate to the stagnant salaries that people have had over the past twenty years. Why it exists: Companies are raising prices on everyday items to combat inflation and other distribution costs while wages are not increasing.
16. Everyday I receive an inordinate amount of robocalls from many different companies that I have no direct affiliation with. Why it exists: Companies have implemented the use of robocalls to decrease expenses related to advertising and collections activities, while there hasn't been a significant control mechanism set in place to limit the amount that individuals receive daily.
17. If you pay attention to the media these days, there are many accusations about different issues as well as individuals that have no real substance or proof. Why it exists: There are laws that protect the rights of the media to report on issues freely.
18. In Ocala, FL, where I live, there has been an increase in automobile burglaries in recent years. Why it exists: There has not been the same amount of police units on the roads as there have been historically.
19. Many companies have started to deplete the amount of workers they continue to employ while taking on even more work. Why it exists: This is a form of lean management that is being directed towards human capital rather than simply inventory figures.
20. The traditional four year college degree isn't worth what is used to be just twenty years ago. Why it exists: The increase of technology has required many workers to learn skills that were often taught primarily in colleges, resulting in the watering down of some of the areas that are taught in schools today. This is why even higher levels of education are now required to take on upper level roles in organizations.

Reflection:

          This assignment brought up some very interesting thoughts while I was contemplating what I should include in my list. At first, some of the issues that I had weighing on my mind came to me right away. As I continued on towards the halfway point, I had to really begin to think of some things that bothered me. I noticed that as I continued on with my list, many of the points that I began to type were actually relevant points of concern that I must have been blocking out on a regular basis. This is when I started realizing that this exercise was beginning to help me to actually come to terms with certain problems that I would usually just ignore. If I were to really start to focus on some of these points I believe I could actually find some ways to improve these situations in a very civil way. 

          In conclusion, I found this assignment to be slightly challenging yet enlightening. It truly does seem to force you to look at the things around you from a more critical view point, which I think we are taught by society not to do. When you think about it, don't we all have the same right to analyze the fairness of what happens in our lives and try to improve them? I realized while working through this assignment that being critical of legitimate problems is not only okay, but it should be encouraged. If everyone actively took this stance, imagine how many of these issues would be in the process of being addressed for the better as we speak. I enjoyed working through this assignment, and I look forward to reading about what some of my classmates thought about it as well.