Preamble

For you to be able to recommend a course of action, you need to develop a set of concrete, specific actions that the client could take and a set of criteria to evaluate them.

Last semester, you researched and presented evidence about the effectiveness of several potential solutions to your problem. Now, it is time to apply what you have learned to the particular problem in the situation your client is facing. You must establish a detailed story for each alternative, explaining how the alternative will work.  What, specifically, should be done? Who should do it? How will it be paid for?

Based on your research last semester and over the break, generate alternatives you will evaluate against the criteria below. Develop a detailed and specific description of how each will function in your situation. Begin with an overview and then establish each alternative's who, what, when, and where. Do not evaluate these alternatives in this assignment.

For example, suppose the problem is that not enough people are taking an available vaccine, and one of your alternatives is to pay people to take it. In that case, your alternative must provide details about how the payment system will work, where the shots will be delivered, who will give them, and where the money will come from. Anticipate questions as you describe each alternative in detail: What is the geographic distribution of the clinics? Will people who already have been vaccinated be paid retroactively?  How will people apply for their money and provide evidence they have received it?

As you think to map out these details, jot down some evaluation and implementation challenges that you can see in your story. For example, paying people to take the vaccine might encourage people who have already become immune through infection to get vaccinated, thereby decreasing the program's effectiveness. You don’t need to evaluate the efficacy now, but jot it down for the next assignment.

During class, we reviewed many approaches to creating alternatives. Use those tips to think creatively about ideas. Finally, I would err on the side of more alternatives rather than few. It is better to receive feedback upfront about what’s not good vs. later on.

Task

Create specific and detailed alternatives in 1.5-2 single-spaced pages (if you need more pages, that’s fine).

For each alternative:

1. Provide the title of it.
2. Description of it: What does it entail? What, specifically, should be done? Who should do it? How will it be paid for?
3. Provide reasoning for it: What are the great things about the alternative?
4. Provide reasoning against it: What are some things that are not great about it?

Notes:

• Please use very little “Fluff” or repetitive text. The text describing the alternatives should be succinct and utilitarian.
• Alternatives should be detailed and specific to the problem at hand. Ask yourself: does this alternative help with the particular cause I’m dealing with?
• Range of alternatives: there should be quantity and variety. Not just different versions of a given alternative. Think creatively.
• Well-written, professionally presented, formatted, cohesive.

Submission