A new employee suggests changing the method of performing a routine job. As an administrator, what should you do?

• A. Discuss the suggestion with the man and determine its value
• B. Tell him that routine procedures are standardized and cannot be changed
• C. Not consider the suggestion because the new man is not familiar with the work
• D. Tell the man to try out the new method unofficially to see if it works

Answer: (A)

Openly evaluating employee input and assessing proposed changes through discussion is the proper approach. When a new employee suggests a different method for a routine task, the administrator should first talk with the employee to understand the idea, the expected benefits, and any potential risks. This discussion helps you gauge whether the change could improve efficiency, accuracy, safety, or morale, and clarifies what data or testing would be needed to validate it. If the idea appears beneficial, you can pilot it under controlled conditions with proper approvals and updated procedures to verify its effectiveness before wider adoption. If it doesn’t seem advantageous, explain the reasons and offer constructive alternatives or refinements. Automatic rejection, or trying the change unofficially, bypasses policy, training, and safety considerations, and dismissing input from a new employee misses a chance for improvement.