Team Meeting #4 Notes

Team Name: The All-Nighters

Case Study #3: Messy Housemates
Meeting Date & Time: 3/18/2017 11:30 am
Meeting Location & Type: Online Web Conference
Team Members: Jasper Pitchford, Nicole Biddle, Allen Summarell, Dominick Ramirez

Executive Summary

We are The All-Nighters, a group of college students who set out to resolve a conflict between a
group of roommates that fell short of their routine house chores, leading to a messy environment.
We assumed the role of these roommates and identified the problem by asking ourselves "How
can we housemates prevent the resentment that is building up among us over our messy
environment?" We achieved a solution by dividing the work among the group and following the
Dewey Reflective Thinking Sequence.

Through the use of the PAC-BOY acronym, we continued to analyze the problem by recognizing
these 5 individuals as college students, living in a shared student housing unit. Although they
may have seen the rules of the house at some point and started off well, cleaning responsibilities
have slacked and some roommates have ignored hints from others towards a cleaner house.
Stakeholders affected by the behavior include the 5 roommates, landlord, and guests of the
roommates. We considered this poor behavior to have a negative impact on the stakeholders by
leading to a dirty living environment, potential for property damage, and a poor impression of
the roommates. With a solution to the conflict, the stakeholders would have a clean, presentable
living space that is conducive to learning and entertaining, allowing them to clean in smaller,
regular batches to prevent larger more time-consuming batches. A number of policies could be in
effect that impact the roommates behavior, such as legal contracts leading to eviction and
lawsuits. A good reference for the individuals would be Three golden rules of cohabitating:
honesty, respect and responsibility.

Our group wanted the criteria for a solution to be specific, measureable, and attainable. With
these roommates having busy lives, the criteria included time effectiveness and fairness, where
chores/tasks can be completed within 30 minutes and each task would take about the same
amount for any individual. To prevent burnout, the chores/tasks had to be interchangeable so
nobody would get stuck doing the same task for long periods of time. Our solution would benefit
all roommates with clear expectations, a set cleaning schedule, and a list of chores posted for
each room. As a consequence, if chores did not get done on a regular basis, a cleaning service
would be hired with all roommates contributing to the cost.

Using our established criteria, we decided on a simple yet effective solution of a chore chart,
punishment jar, and roommate contract. The chore chart (Attachment A) outlines the
designated tasks to be completed throughout the house and follows a schedule (Attachment B)
allowing equality amongst the roommates. Should any of the chores get missed or become
delinquent, roommates will pay into the punishment jar which would then be used to purchase
a maid service for the week. Details of the shared cleaning responsibilities are outlined in a
roommate contract (Attachment C) that also discusses concerns to individual schedules,
purchasing of supplies, and other housemate issues. To improve comradery between the
roommates, we identified several rewards and consequences for the roommates that complete
their tasks in a timely manner (Attachment D).

Reference(s):

"Roommate Agreement." Roommate Agreement | Office of Housing. University of Tennessee ,

2017. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.
<https://www.utm.edu/departments/housing/RoommateAgreement.php>.
Attachment A Chores List

Kitchen
- Dishes (daily)
- Sweep (daily)
- Mop (weekly)
- Clean fridge (monthly)
- Garbage (when full)

Bathroom
- Pick up behind yourself (everyone - daily)
- Clean: toilet, sink, bathtub / shower (weekly)
- Sweep (daily)
- Mop (weekly)
- Garbage (when full)

Living room
- Pick up (daily)
- Sweep / Vacuum (weekly)
- Dust (weekly)

Laundry room
- Pick up (daily)
- Sweep / Vacuum (weekly)
- Dust (weekly)

Hallways/stairs
- Pick up (daily)
- Sweep / Vacuum (weekly)
- Dust (weekly)

Shovel/ Mow lawn

- Mow lawn (weekly)
- Shovel (As needed - rotate turns)
Attachment B Cleaning Schedule

Roommate #1 Roommate #2 Roommate #3 Roommate #4 Roommate #5

Hallway / Laundry
Monday Kitchen Living Room Bathroom
Stairs Room
Hallway / Laundry
Tuesday Bathroom Kitchen Living Room
Stairs Room
Hallway / Laundry
Wednesday Living Room Bathroom Kitchen
Stairs Room
Laundry Hallway /
Thursday Living Room Bathroom Kitchen
Room Stairs
Hallway / Laundry
Friday Living Room Bathroom Kitchen
Stairs Room
Saturday Complete Weekly Tasks & Shared Yard Work Responsibilities

Sunday Rest Day

Attachment C House Agreement

House Agreement
100 N University Ave, Some Town, USA

Please use the following document in this manner: 1. Respond to each question with your own preference, each
roommate individually. 2. Examine and discuss the differences with your roommate(s). 3. Try to agree on a way to
resolve those differences before conflicts arise, in a manner that will be satisfactory to all of you. This may involve
compromise, so please be open and flexible, yet assertive of your own needs.

Roommate 1 Name
Roommate 2 Name
Roommate 3 Name
Roommate 4 Name
Roommate 5 Name

My roommates may use these possessions of mine:

Television __________ __________ __________

Radio
_________
With
__________ __________

Possesi
Computer __________
Video Games Always
_________
Permissi Never
__________

ons ___________
__________
__________
Furniture
Dishes/utensials ___________
on__________
__________
__________
Food _____________ __________
__________
Clothes
_____________ __________
Toiletries __________
_____________ __________ __________

_______________ __________ __________

I understand it is against House policy to give someone else my keys. If theft or vandalism to property in the House
results from my negligence, I understand that I might be held liable for the loss. Please initial:

Roommate 1 Name Roommate 4 Name

Roommate 2 Name Roommate 5 Name
Roommate 3 Name

Discuss: Anything else regarding security and privacy?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CLEANLINESS
KITCHEN
Daily Weekly When Needed Rotating Basis
BATHROOM
Daily Weekly When Needed Rotating Basis
LIVING ROOM
Daily Weekly When Needed Rotating Basis
LAUNDRY ROOM
Daily Weekly When Needed Rotating Basis
FLOORS: HALLWAYS & STAIRS
Daily Weekly When Needed Rotating Basis
YARDWORK: SNOW SHOVELING & LAWN MOWING
Daily Weekly When Needed Rotating Basis

General supplies include: cleaning supplies, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.
Discuss: How will general items be used? Will they be available for everyones use? Will they be used for
communal areas and shared cleaning? Who will pay for the general items? Will you take turns purchasing certain
items or will all roommates put forth money for the purchases?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Communal areas will be used for: Socializing/Entertainment Studying

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

THE TIME I PREFER TO STUDY IS:

Morning Afternoon Evening 10pm-12am 12am 2am

I PREFER TO STUDY IN:

My Room The Library The Lounge Lots of Places
Discuss: What kind of behavior is acceptable when someone is trying to study? Music? TV? Phone Calls? Etc.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
*You can only have overnight guests if all roommates agree. Discuss: How many guests can be in the room at one
time? _____________________________________________________

I WILL BE EXPECTING OVERNIGHT GUESTS: Never Occasionally 1 per month 2-3 per month
GUESTS WHO CAN STAY OVERNIGHT: Family Friends Significant Other
OVERNIGHT GUESTS CAN STAY IN: Communal areas Bedroom of hosting resident ______________
OVERNIGHT GUESTS ARE ALLOWED: Always Never Only after notification of _____ day(s)
Discuss: Are guests allowed to use others property? Shared facilities (shower, etc.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Discuss: For those areas where we differ on visitation preferences, we have decided to compromise in this manner
(list areas and compromise):
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Discuss the following
Decorations in communal areas Noise level (what is loud) Displays of affection/sexual behavior
Arrangement of furniture Preferred name and pronouns Appropriate/offensive language
Hygiene (showering/laundry) How to confront each other Spiritual interests
Level of cleanliness Significant others/relationships Family or cultural traditions/practice
Attachment D Rewards & Consequences

REWARDS CONSEQUENCES

Movie Tickets Bought You Buy Movie Tickets

Roommate Dinner You Make Dinner

Chore Skipping Chore Repetition

Money Reward You Pay Someone Else to Do Your Chores

Free from Nagging Constant Nagging