Part I: Identifying Types of Decisions. For each situation below, determine whether the decision is Programmed or Non-Programmed. In addition to identifying the type of decision, briefly explain why you classified it that way.

Question 1: Defining the Problem The core problem is that the government office is overwhelmed by a surge in disaster relief applications, processing only 10 per day via routine procedures, resulting in massive backlogs, long queues, public complaints, and negative social media attention. Explanation: In the first 4 months post-disaster, the office received a large number of applications but lacks the capacity to handle the demand efficiently, leading to delays and dissatisfaction. Question 2: Causes Step 1: Insufficient staffing levels. The office does not have enough employees to process more than 10 applications per day during a crisis. Step 2: Inflexible routine procedures. Standard non-emergency processes are too slow and bureaucratic for a high-volume disaster relief scenario. Step 3: No prioritization or triage system. Applications are handled in a first-come, first-served manner without assessing urgency, exacerbating delays for critical cases. Question 3: Developing Alternatives Step 1: Hire temporary staff or volunteers. Recruit additional workers to boost daily processing to, e.g., 50+ applications, clearing the backlog faster. Step 2: Streamline procedures with technology. Introduce online application portals, automated verification, and digital signatures to reduce paperwork and speed up approvals. Step 3: Implement a triage system and public communication. Prioritize urgent cases (e.g., families with children or severe losses) and launch a social media campaign to manage expectations, provide updates, and reduce complaints.