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Messy Housemates
Submitted by Haslam Britnee, McKiney Erica, Millard Delaney, Loutensock Mckenna, and
Zamora Jonathan.
Salt lake Community College
COMM 1010-41
April 3rd

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 3
Project Description 4
Methods 5

Problem Question 5

Analyzing the Problem 5

Setting Criteria 6

Brainstorming Solutions 6

Analyzing Solutions 7

Implementing Solutions 8

Conclusion 9

Works Cited 10
Appendices
Appendix 1: Team Contract 11
Appendix 2: Comparison Chart 12

Executive Summary
This report summarizes Group 9's problem solving process. Our problem was to
recommend a solution for roommates who are having issues keeping the house clean. One
roommate tries to keep the house tidy and feels like they are alone in the process. Our group
needed to recommend a strategy in order to effectively come to a solution to where the house is
clean and everyone is working together and happy.
Group 9 worked together to come up with a solution that everybody would agree on. We
all brainstormed ideas on how to make sure that every person in the house had a job. We made
sure that every part of the house was being cleaned, and that everyone got the same amount of
work. We came to an agreement for recommending a single solution and a plan to implement our
recommendation.
We decided that the best route to take would be a chart and or schedule for the chores that
need to be done around the house. Everybody would have a room that they were responsible for
deep cleaning once a week and little chores everyday such as sweeping, loading the dishwasher,
etc. However, bedrooms are personal space and can be kept however they wish. This solution
offers the chance to keep the house clean without having one person do everything. It also keeps
a good working communication in the house and should keep good relationships among the
roommates.

Project Description:
As a group, we were asked to discuss, brainstorm, and develop solutions to help solve the
problem of Messy Housemates. We put ourselves in the situation of sharing a house with four
other students. We signed a lease, moved into the house and all agreed to share cleaning
responsibilities. As time passed, people became less involved and the house began to get dirty. A
few of the roommates tried to drop hints to go back to our cleaning responsibilities but they fell
on deaf ears.
Messy roommates are a common problem among college students. In fact, problems regarding
roommates rank among the top-five reasons students drop out of college. (Youssef) We wanted to
come up with effective solutions to this problem that roommates could use in order to live
together without conflict.
For this project, we created a group of five people and communicated via email, text, and web
discussions. Despite challenges with work, school and personal schedules, we were able to
brainstorm ideas, analyze possible solutions and create a strategy to provide what we think is a
functional solution to this situation.

Methods
Our group got started by first preparing a Team Contract which listed our group norms and roles.
We then went over the problem that we were going to solve. We then began by using the
reflective thinking sequence, which is a seven-step problem solving method (Adler & Elmhorst
p. 236). The seven steps used are, define the problem, analyze the problem, establish criteria for
a solution, generate possible solutions to the problem, decide on a solution, implement the
solution, and lastly, follow up on the solution (Adler & Elmhorst p.236). We will describe below
our methods and findings for each step taken. When we were finished with the reflective
thinking sequence, we were able to conduct a report, as well as evaluate each other in our own
groups based upon participation and contributions to our project.
The problem defined
"How can we housemates prevent the resentment that is building up among us over our messy
environment?"
Our group agreed that our key problem was: Finding a solution that is acceptable to all five
roommates, and distributing tasks evenly.
Analysis of the Problem
Before coming up with solutions to a problem, it is important to know all of the facts to fully
understand what is going on. In order to have a successful solution, you have to meet the needs
and understand the needs of those involved. Appropriate questions for analyzing a problem
include (a) How bad is that problem? (b) Why does it need to be resolved? (c) What are its
causes? (d) What forces are on our side? (e) How do they help us? (f) How can we strengthen
them? (Adler & Elmhorst p. 236). Analyzing and understanding the problem prevents mistakes
and useless solutions to the problem.
When we analyzed the problem we had to take into consideration who is affected by the problem
(all of the roommates), the history of the problem (this has been ongoing), resources to help aide
a solution, and what type of policies are already in place that will affect our solutions.

A.

Characteristics

1. School is more demanding, which is likely the cause of the roommates falling behind on their
chores.

2. There is an agreement to share cleaning responsibilities.

B.

Stakeholders

The only stakeholders in this problem are all five of the roommates.
1. Impact on the stakeholders: All five of the roommates are feeling remorse towards each other
because of the messy apartment, and the lack of cleanliness and responsibility for cleanliness of
the apartment.
2. Group goal: The goal is to find a solution acceptable to all five roommates, that also
distributes tasks fairly and evenly.
3. History: There was an agreement made upon moving in that everyone would share cleaning
responsibilities. For the first month, the roommates were good about cleaning up, but as school
gets more demanding, the cleaning is not being kept up on.
C. Resources: The roommates are a good resource to find out what they feel is fair and right. We
can also talk to other people who have roommates and find out how they have worked their own
cleaning responsibilities.

D. Policies: The roommates will need to stick to the chore list, and commit to completing tasks.

Generate a Solution
To find a solution the team members got together and brainstormed ideas on how to successfully
keep the house clean while maintaining a positive happy environment. We brainstormed a few
possible solutions like a calendar, a chore chart, communication among the housemates and how
to split up the cost of cleaning supplies.

Decid on a solution
We decided that a calendar with all of the house chores split equally among the house members.
Each member would have one room to deep clean once a week and little chores everyday such as
taking the garbage out or starting the dishwasher. However, personal spaces like bedrooms may

be kept however they like and the housemates must clean up after themselves. (Wash dishes after
using them, clean up after themselves)

Implementing the Solution

To ensure the success of this plan the housemates will enter a contract. Excuses such as "I am too
busy" or "I am never home" will not excuse you from your responsibilities of the house. Every
person needs to do their share in order for the plan to successfully work.

Follow up on the Solution

The follow up on this solution is positive as long as all of the house members abide by the
contract initially set up when setting up a plan to keep the house clean. If all of the work and the
costs equally among all of the members, the house will run smoothly. However, if one member
slacks off on their responsibilities, the entire house will be affected and the positivity amongst
the house makes will become tense.

Established Criteria:
1. Cleaning Supplies: Everyone needs to split and rotate who purchases the cleaning
supplies. You all pay rent, might as well split the cost for cleaning supplies. Rotate
through.
2. Chores: Come up with a weekly chore chart or go buy a chore chart and some stickers.
Rotate through each week or so who takes out the trash, who sweeps/mops, who vacuums,

and who cleans the bathroom. Then, as far as dishes go, keep up with your dishes, and
clean your personal stuff.
3. Time: Have everyone right down their schedule, and see when everyone can do that
specific chore they have been assigned to during the week. They can mark it off once they
have done so.
4. All roommates must agree and accept the terms they all contribute and come up with.

Conclusion
As a group, we were given the scenario to solve the problem of Messy Housemates. As the
scenario goes, four students are sharing a house and as they all sign a lease and move in they all
agree to share cleaning responsibilities. As the school year progresses and finals come around the
four roommates became too occupied with finals that they all forgot their responsibilities to clean
the house and thus it begins to get dirty.

In conclusion, we as a whole group of five people came up with and analyzed some possible
solutions of ways that we think are functional solutions to this scenario. Of the few possible
solutions that we agreed on as a group were, making a chart and schedule, having rotating days,
and the third solution was implementing a rule that if you touched it you clean it. We all then
decided that the best solution would be to come up with a chart and schedule in which each
roommate gets the same amount of work. Each roommate would be given a room that they are
responsible of cleaning once a week and as well having little chores such as sweeping,
vacuuming, loading the dishwasher, and etc. As a whole group we agreed that this solution was
best because it offers the chance to maintain the house clean while every roommate gets the same
amount of work and not one individual is left to do everything. We also noted that this solution
of coming up with a chart and schedule also helps the roommates keep a good working
communication environment amongst them and also helps them develop good relationships
amongst each other.
Overall as a group of five people we all managed to do a good job in communicating to each
other via email, text, and web discussions. Despite some difficulty with work, school, and
personal reasons each group member made sure they pulled their weight and provided their part
to the project. We all provided input on the solutions and we all pitched in ideas of our own. In
the end we as a whole group came up with a solution pertaining to our scenario that we believe is
a functional and efficient solution to the scenario of Messy Housemates.

Works Cited
Youssef, Stephanie. "Messy Roommates Can Mess up Your Life." - The Dail
y Illini. University of Illinois, 28 Oct. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.

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Analysis of Potential Solutions Based on Criteria

Rotating
Chores

Clear
communicat
ion

Chore
Calendar

Splitting
Clean what
Cleaning
you touched
Supply Cost

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Keeping the house

clean

Keeping private space

clean

Keeping yard clean

Keeping up with daily

chores

Deep cleaning once a

week

Maintaining Positive
attitude

Equally dividing work

Equally dividing cost

TOTAL POINTS

31

38

36

34

33

Task 1: Team Contract

Develop
Relational Norms
(3 or more)
(see Table 7-4)

1. We commit to working together as a team on this group

project.
2. We should honor our commitment to making it to all
meetings.
3. Everyone agrees to contribute equally.

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Develop
Task Norms
(3 or more)
(see Table 7-4)

1. If we have to miss a meeting, we will email our info to all

members at least one day in advance.
2. If we miss a meeting, we still make sure our part of the
contribution is turned in on time.
3. Everyone in the group should be included.

Assign Relational
Roles
(see Table 7-2)
You may assign
multiple roles to
members.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assign Task Roles

(see Table 7-2)
You may assign a
leader
[recommended] or
rotate leadership.

Empathetic Listener: Erica Mckinney

Harmonizer: Britnee Haslam
Praise Giver: Jonathan Zamora
Participation encourager: Mckenna Loutensock
Delaney Millard:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Starter: Britnee Haslam

Direction Giver: Erica Mckinney
Mckenna Loutensock: Information Seeker
Reality Tester: Jonathan Zamora
Delaney Millard: