Mathematics Homework Help

You will respond to two different classmates answering all questions and prompts for each response.

Response 1: Respond to at least one classmate using the following:

Your boss is convinced you must first rank your daily tasks in order of importance to be most efficient. You would like to convince your boss otherwise by using your classmate’s data.

• How many tasks did your classmate propose? Choose a time between 30 and 90 minutes that each task will take.
• If each task takes the same amount of time, calculate your classmate’s total time to complete the workload.
• Then, look at your classmate’s response for Paragraph 2 in which the quadratic pass method was used. How much longer will the list of tasks take if this method was used?
• Use this information to write a 1-paragraph memo to your boss to justify why the ranking of tasks should not be used.
• Explain how the company would benefit by using your method instead.

First classmate to respond to:

Sarah,

When thinking about my daily performed tasks, I noticed I follow a process when logging into my computer and beginning my workday. I use numerous programs and spreadsheets for multiple mental health practices that typically remain open, so I can jump back and forth betwixt them throughout the day. My daily tasks are checking and replying to potential client emails, listening to voicemails, returning calls, answering phones and scheduling clients, and verifying mental health benefits with insurance companies. Because these tasks are done for multiple practices, I found myself getting off track and not completing the amount of work anticipated. When I began answering emails for one practice, the phone would ring for another. Before I knew it, I had abandoned my initial task and initiated something else. Because of the lack of progress, I began using a process similar to the quadratic pass method without knowing it was a real thing! By applying the quadratic pass method, I started by choosing one business to start with every morning. I would reply to emails by going down the list as they came in and responding immediately. I continued this process by responding to voicemails, verifying benefits, and marking each complete as I finished the task. If the phone rings or an interruption presents when I am working through the quadratic process method, I address and complete the newly introduced task and immediately return to the original. I follow this process every morning, going down my list of jobs with each mental health practice. This method has improved my time management by eliminating procrastination and demanding better focus. Before, I would tend to scan my tasks and leave the more tedious ones for last, completing the more straightforward ones first. However, I may not be able to eliminate all contact switches to one set schedule due to my responsibilities for being the first contact of multiple practices. Because my cell phone is linked to a router accepting calls for each of the practices, this has improved my multitasking skills bettering the flow of contact switches.

When using the ranking method, answering phones and scheduling clients is first, responding to potential client emails comes in second, returning calls to voicemails left is third, and verifying mental health benefits is last. Because live calls coming in are just like a customer coming up to your desk for assistance, I ranked answering phones and scheduling clients as the most important. While client emails and voicemails are equally relevant, I feel someone would call if immediate attention was needed. Furthermore, if I did not answer the incoming call, it would be another voicemail left that I would have to attend to at a later time. If I were to rank my tasks in order of importance and complete them according to ranking, I feel as if I could take longer than completing them in accordance with the quadratic pass method. Because I do not have a choice and must answer calls as they come in, I must stick to random completion for my other tasks. This allows me to flow and move through many tasks without order, completing them fluidly.

Response 2: Respond to at least one other classmate using the following:

• Review the number of tasks your classmate chose to complete. Use this as a starting point.
• Now, add two data points below this point and two above this point to show how the number of tasks could vary day to day. Consider these number of tasks your x values.
• Choose a time for each task between 30 and 90 minutes, assume each tasks takes the same amount of time. How long will your peers list of tasks take give the varying number of tasks.
• Write an ordered pair for each situation (number of tasks, time to complete)
• If you graphed this what shape would you expect? Why?

Second classmate to respond to:

Latoya,

My daily task normally consist of waking up my teenagers up for school and making sure to keep them on track. Taking the dogs out then getting myself ready for work. Once I get to work I normally look at the list I made the day before highlighting the things that I need to accomplish for that day. It does seem like I always have one or two things left from the day before. After work I immediately go into cleaning mode even when not necessary but it allows me to be able to focus on my next daily task which is school especially this class. I feel like I have to set aside more time since math is my most challenging subject. Even after what seems to be organized day there are still times I feel like I didn’t accomplish much or don’t have much time left. That could be but was mentioned in the TED talk about spending time prioritizing your work is time you aren’t spent doing it. If I was to apply the quadratic pass method I might start off by assigning the kids the task of taking out the dogs in the morning which could allow me time to clean before work so that is one less thing that consumes my time in the afternoons or even make sure they do their chores, however when they don’t do them like I feel they should be done I end up doing it so I just do it. It would help if I would just not stress over it and make sure they help. Also on my job I could try to start with items that have due dates or anything that might interfere with someone else doing their job.

Using the ranking method I would rank my morning task first which consist of dogs and children. Next would be work which involves me checking emails, voicemails and making patient rounds. Next I come home and clean. Than start working on my assignments. I could better manage my time in the early mornings by simply asking for assistance, this would leave me extra time in the afternoon to work on my assignments which in turn could leave extra time to actually breathe and take in everything during the evening hours and not feel so anxious or rushed.