Which scenario BEST illustrates a typical situational judgment item?

• A. An employee analyzes quarterly sales trends
• B. An employee completes a compliance training quiz
• C. An employee sees a colleague stealing small office supplies and must decide whether to report, ignore, or confront, considering policy and safety
• D. An employee files an expense report

Answer: (C)

This item tests your ability to handle a realistic workplace dilemma by weighing policy, ethics, and safety to choose an appropriate action. In the scenario, you’re faced with a colleague stealing, which requires balancing the right course of action with company rules and potential risk. The best choice is to use the established reporting channels and follow policy, because that upholds integrity, protects the organization, and minimizes personal risk. It shows you can address misconduct responsibly without escalating a confrontation or putting yourself in danger. Ignoring the situation would allow the problem to continue and signals a tolerance for policy violations. Directly confronting the colleague could create safety or escalation issues, especially if you lack authority or complete information. The other options—performing a routine analysis, completing a compliance quiz, or filing an expense report—represent standard tasks that don’t require navigating an ethical dilemma or applying reporting procedures in the same way.