When a subordinate proposes a change to a proven procedure, what should the supervisor do first?

• A. Ignore the suggestion
• B. Give careful consideration to the proposal
• C. Implement the change immediately
• D. Discipline the subordinate if it fails

Answer: (B)

When a subordinate proposes a change to a proven procedure, the supervisor should first give careful consideration to the proposal. This means weighing the potential benefits against the risks, evaluating the supporting evidence, and checking how the change would affect reliability, safety, compliance, and alignment with goals and resources. It’s also wise to gather input from others and, if appropriate, test the change on a small scale before full implementation. This measured approach respects proven methods while remaining open to improvement.

Disregarding the suggestion, implementing without review, or punishing the subordinate for proposing change would either miss a beneficial idea, introduce avoidable problems, or stifle initiative and growth.