Analyze the Problem

Budget Spent

The mayor has allocated you a limited amount of funds to investigate and analyze the situation at hand.

The number shown is the percentage of the budget you have spent so far in your analysis. In the example shown, the user has spent 38% of the allotted budget.

Each analysis method (interview, report, etc.) has an associated cost indicated. You must always consider staff time and resources expended in the investigative effort. Usually the cost involves a person’s time (wages) and incidental charges (travel, etc.).

The budget you are working with currently is only for your analysis. As you begin the second phase (formulating your plan), the mayor will give you a new budget to work with. This implementaion budget will track the costs of putting your plan in action.

You will receive a warning when your budget spent reaches 90%. Although the mayor will allow a 20% overspending for your analysis, it is best to be as efficient as possible.

You will be fired by the mayor if your analysis spending exceeds 120%.

Analyze

The Analyze button links to the main Analysis page, which lists the resources you use to conduct your investigation. The resources are organized in three main categories: Interviews, Reports, and Other Research.

Critical Questions

Analyzing the local problem will help you design a more effective reponse strategy. There are critical questions you should ask, even if the answers are not readily available. Your answers will help you choose the most appropriate set of responses later on.

The critical questions for street prostitution are organized into eight pages by category. Each page allows you to enter answers to each of the critical questions. Your answers will be saved, and you can re-visit these from session to session.

A page with all the questions and your answers is also available, which you can print to use as you develop your response plan.

Problem File

The problem file allows you to review the products of your analysis (interviews, reports, maps, etc.). This page also lets you read the initial newspaper article, letter to the editor, and memo from the mayor.

Create My Plan / Review My Plan

When you are satisfied with your investigation, you are ready for part two of the module, creating your plan. Click the "Create My Plan" when you are ready. First, you must confirm your choice. Clicking the "No" button will return you to the Analyze page. Click "Yes" if you think you have grasped the problem in Central City.

Choose carefully; you will be tested! Before you can begin to formulate your plan, you will be presented with ten questions from the City Council, to confirm your knowledge of the situation. If you realize you are not ready for the test, you can cancel at any time and return to continue with your analysis.

If you have already completed the City Council's test, the "Create My Plan" button will not appear. In its place will be the “Review My Plan” button. This button allows you to skip past the questions to go directly to your plan. This button will only be available if you have already begun to formulate your plan.