The following appeared in an article in a consumer-electronics magazine:"Company X's latest model of digital camera to be released next month, the TR12, is being promoted as the most portable, user-friendly digital camera available, and also an excellent bargain. It can be expected to live up to these claims, because Company X's previous model, the TR11, was universally lauded as setting the standard in these areas last year."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The above article is recommending buyers to go for company's x latest model of digital camera, TR12, which has been promoted as most portable, user friendly camera along and also an excellent bargain. The author of the article believes that this will stand to the expectation as the company's previous model TR11 was lauded as setting standard in these areas last year. This argument is unconvincing because of the following reasons.Firstly, argument says that because the previous model was successful, so this new upcomming model would also do well in the market. It is possible that previous model was first of its kind, so people got attracted towards it. Therefore TR11 was a success. But now there could be number of sets in the market with same functions and may be better than TR11 in terms of quality. As a result, TR12 might not get same attention as it would not be alone in the market. So one cannot be sure about its success.Second, the price of TR12 might not be competitive enough in the market. As it is better in quality than the TR11, so it must have used expensive material than what was used for TR11. So because of high price it might not get enough sales in the market. Hence might not be an excellent bargain when compered with available model in the market.To stregthen the argument author needs to provide the market report or annalysis for the digital camera in this segment. As it stands argument is unconvincing. So unless author of the argument give enough evidence to show that other products in the market are not as good as TR12 in terms of quality, convenience, price; this argument will not be convincing.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
GMAT AWA
“Companies should be prohibited from monitoring e-mail correspondence of their employees, since this policy destroys the atmosphere of trust and undermines employee morale.” From your perspective, how accurate is the above statement? Support your position with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The above statement says that companies should not monitor email correspondences of their employee as it destroys the atmosphere of trust and also undermines employe morale. I believe that in normal circumstances companies should surely prohibit from monitoring email correspondence of their employee. But under some cases this monitoring become necessary.Every human being needs some break from work to refresh his or her mind and to feel fresh. For that, somebody sitting in the office might send some personal email to his/her friends or to family members. It will surely not affect the work or output. In contrary, it will refresh the mind of the employee and he or she would probably deliver better output. On the other hand if company starts checking each and every mail than will be breach of privacy of an individual. Many a times email might have some confidential information such as bank account details etc. So under normal circumstances company should probhit from monitoring email, and hence create an atmosphere of trust in the organisation.However, sometimes it becomes important to monitor email correspondence. For instance, when performance of an employee is below average or when employer become suspicious about employee activites / moments or when some employee is caught in some controversy. For example, if from some source company got to know that an employee is leaking company's data, then that person's email correrspondence should be monitored. At the same time company can have some softwares to check if any person is opening porn sites in the offices or sending company's confidential data to outsider. But I believe that under normal circumstances email should not be monitor. It could affect an employee's morale.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The above statement says that companies should not monitor email correspondences of their employee as it destroys the atmosphere of trust and also undermines employe morale. I believe that in normal circumstances companies should surely prohibit from monitoring email correspondence of their employee. But under some cases this monitoring become necessary.Every human being needs some break from work to refresh his or her mind and to feel fresh. For that, somebody sitting in the office might send some personal email to his/her friends or to family members. It will surely not affect the work or output. In contrary, it will refresh the mind of the employee and he or she would probably deliver better output. On the other hand if company starts checking each and every mail than will be breach of privacy of an individual. Many a times email might have some confidential information such as bank account details etc. So under normal circumstances company should probhit from monitoring email, and hence create an atmosphere of trust in the organisation.However, sometimes it becomes important to monitor email correspondence. For instance, when performance of an employee is below average or when employer become suspicious about employee activites / moments or when some employee is caught in some controversy. For example, if from some source company got to know that an employee is leaking company's data, then that person's email correrspondence should be monitored. At the same time company can have some softwares to check if any person is opening porn sites in the offices or sending company's confidential data to outsider. But I believe that under normal circumstances email should not be monitor. It could affect an employee's morale.
GMAT AWA
According to a recent study, professional bodybuilders who used Train & Gain, a new protein supplement, over the course of three months experienced an increase in measured strength of up to 20%. Since Train & Gain is now available without prescription at all major pharmacies, superior results are no longer limited to professional athletes. Try Train & Gain today and you too can boost your strength and achieve professional-level performance in just a few months.” Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
YOUR RESPONSE:
In the above argument it is said that since professional bodybuilders have experienced an increase in measured strength of up to 20% after taking a new protein supplement, so other people should also go for it as it is available without prescription at all major pharmacies. There are three major flaw in this argument.Firstly ,no information is given whether this protein has to be taken alone or with some specific diet.It is very much possible that this protien supplement might have some negative results if not taken with some specific food item.So full information in this regard should have been there in the argument.Secondly, this supplement has been successful only on professional bodybuilders, who must be spending good amount of time on body exercises and gymnasium. So, one cannot say that this would be successful on people who are not working out regularly.Thirdly, nothing is mentioned in the argument whether there would be any side effects of this supplement on the body or on the health of the person taking this supplement.So unless complete information is regard to this protein supplement, one should not start try this "Train and Gain" protein supplement.
YOUR RESPONSE:
In the above argument it is said that since professional bodybuilders have experienced an increase in measured strength of up to 20% after taking a new protein supplement, so other people should also go for it as it is available without prescription at all major pharmacies. There are three major flaw in this argument.Firstly ,no information is given whether this protein has to be taken alone or with some specific diet.It is very much possible that this protien supplement might have some negative results if not taken with some specific food item.So full information in this regard should have been there in the argument.Secondly, this supplement has been successful only on professional bodybuilders, who must be spending good amount of time on body exercises and gymnasium. So, one cannot say that this would be successful on people who are not working out regularly.Thirdly, nothing is mentioned in the argument whether there would be any side effects of this supplement on the body or on the health of the person taking this supplement.So unless complete information is regard to this protein supplement, one should not start try this "Train and Gain" protein supplement.
GMAT AWA
"Employees always perform better when given a say in determining the boundaries of their roles within a company."
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The opinion here states that employees give better output, when they get chance to set boundaries of their roles in an organisation. It means that power to decide the role lies with employee also. I believe that this would be feasible only when an employee has sufficient experience in the field.For example, an engineer graduate who has just passed out from the university cannot be expected to determine the boundaries of his or her role. Only when an employee has spend some time in the oraganisation, he or she can decide the role.For instance civil engineer who has enter design field cannot straight away decide the extent to which he or she can design.But this is not the case for experienced people. Employees with experience in their respective fields especially one who is working at managerial level, should have the power to determine their roles. For example, if somebody is hired for the post of manager in a company, after intial orientation, this person should have say in determining the boundaries of the role that he/she will be doing in the organisation. For instance Design Manager can ask for more responsibility apart from designining such as marketing, recruitment, Financial control. If we go by this, then an organisation can get better output from its employees.Also, Company can have annual or bi-annual appraisal where senior emloyee ican be asked to set his or her own goals, with time frame in which he/she is expected to reach out to that goal.
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The opinion here states that employees give better output, when they get chance to set boundaries of their roles in an organisation. It means that power to decide the role lies with employee also. I believe that this would be feasible only when an employee has sufficient experience in the field.For example, an engineer graduate who has just passed out from the university cannot be expected to determine the boundaries of his or her role. Only when an employee has spend some time in the oraganisation, he or she can decide the role.For instance civil engineer who has enter design field cannot straight away decide the extent to which he or she can design.But this is not the case for experienced people. Employees with experience in their respective fields especially one who is working at managerial level, should have the power to determine their roles. For example, if somebody is hired for the post of manager in a company, after intial orientation, this person should have say in determining the boundaries of the role that he/she will be doing in the organisation. For instance Design Manager can ask for more responsibility apart from designining such as marketing, recruitment, Financial control. If we go by this, then an organisation can get better output from its employees.Also, Company can have annual or bi-annual appraisal where senior emloyee ican be asked to set his or her own goals, with time frame in which he/she is expected to reach out to that goal.
GMAT AWA
“Education has become the main provider of individual opportunity in our society. Just as property and money once were the keys to
success, education has now become the element that most ensures success in life.”
In your opinion, how accurate is the view expressed above?
Explain, using reasons and examples based on your own experience, observations, or reading.
Today's economy is knowledge based economy. The person who has the knowledge has upper hand over other. This knowledge building process in an individual starts with primary education in childhood and subsequently moves ahead with secondary and higher education. So, education is a must to become successful in today's economy. Number of examples can be drawn from our experiences to prove this point.
We have seen that those countries which have taken care of education have done relatively better than those nations who have not given importance to education. Take an example of USA, UK. In these counties government has policies and infrastructure in place to make sure that each individual get access to education. So they are much better off than developing counties such as India and China in terms of employment, living standards, economical condition etc. Lot of talented people are there in these developing countries, but they are not able to work to their potential because of lack of education. So, people are not able to perform number of tasks, which on one side results in unemployment and on the other side creates shortage of skilled people. Even government in these counties have realized this fact and have lately put lot of investment to improve infrastructure and results are forth coming.
Education not only creates knowledge, but also it helps in personality development, imparts moral and ethical values. These values are really important to get rid of various sorts of problems that most of the nations face today such as corruption, bribery, crime etc. As we have seen in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, most of the people not get access to education. So, they are put by vested interest into various illegal activities, terrorism etc, that goes against both nation’s and an individual’s success.
success, education has now become the element that most ensures success in life.”
In your opinion, how accurate is the view expressed above?
Explain, using reasons and examples based on your own experience, observations, or reading.
Today's economy is knowledge based economy. The person who has the knowledge has upper hand over other. This knowledge building process in an individual starts with primary education in childhood and subsequently moves ahead with secondary and higher education. So, education is a must to become successful in today's economy. Number of examples can be drawn from our experiences to prove this point.
We have seen that those countries which have taken care of education have done relatively better than those nations who have not given importance to education. Take an example of USA, UK. In these counties government has policies and infrastructure in place to make sure that each individual get access to education. So they are much better off than developing counties such as India and China in terms of employment, living standards, economical condition etc. Lot of talented people are there in these developing countries, but they are not able to work to their potential because of lack of education. So, people are not able to perform number of tasks, which on one side results in unemployment and on the other side creates shortage of skilled people. Even government in these counties have realized this fact and have lately put lot of investment to improve infrastructure and results are forth coming.
Education not only creates knowledge, but also it helps in personality development, imparts moral and ethical values. These values are really important to get rid of various sorts of problems that most of the nations face today such as corruption, bribery, crime etc. As we have seen in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, most of the people not get access to education. So, they are put by vested interest into various illegal activities, terrorism etc, that goes against both nation’s and an individual’s success.
GMAT AWA
The following appeared in the opinion column of a financial magazine.
“On average, middle-aged consumers devote 39 percent of their retail expenditure to department store products and services, while for younger consumers the average is only 25 percent. Since the number of middle-aged people will increase dramatically within the next decade, department stores can expect retail sales to increase significantly during that period. Furthermore, to take advantage of the trend, these stores should begin to replace some of those products intended to attract the younger consumer with products intended to attract the middle-aged consumer.”
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.
The author is recommending store to focus more on attracting middle aged consumer over younger consumer for 2 reasons: 1) middle aged consumer spend 39 percent of their retail expenditure at departmental store whereas for young consumer it is only 25 percent. 2) The number of middle aged people will increase dramatically within next 10 years. The argument is unconvincing because it has not taken following points into consideration.
Firstly, the author is ignoring the younger consumer. These stores should do the analysis on younger population also. For example, they should see the reason behind younger population spending only 25 percent of the retail expenditure at departmental store, probably, then come out with some strategy to attract younger population, rather than focussing only on the middle-aged population. Furthermore, information should be there on how much increase will be in population of younger consumer in coming decade, because they will also have some market share in future.
Secondly, author is relying only on the percentage of the retail expenditure spend at departmental store, without looking at the total consumer base. Information should be there on the total number of younger consumer and middle aged consumer. It is possible that 25 percent of young consumer is much more than 39 percent of middle aged population.
As it stands, argument is weak. So, before drawing any conclusion, author should study the data related to younger consumer, and hence lookout for the ways to attract them also. Also, author should have more information related to total consumer base of various age group. Only then the argument could be strengthened.
“On average, middle-aged consumers devote 39 percent of their retail expenditure to department store products and services, while for younger consumers the average is only 25 percent. Since the number of middle-aged people will increase dramatically within the next decade, department stores can expect retail sales to increase significantly during that period. Furthermore, to take advantage of the trend, these stores should begin to replace some of those products intended to attract the younger consumer with products intended to attract the middle-aged consumer.”
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.
The author is recommending store to focus more on attracting middle aged consumer over younger consumer for 2 reasons: 1) middle aged consumer spend 39 percent of their retail expenditure at departmental store whereas for young consumer it is only 25 percent. 2) The number of middle aged people will increase dramatically within next 10 years. The argument is unconvincing because it has not taken following points into consideration.
Firstly, the author is ignoring the younger consumer. These stores should do the analysis on younger population also. For example, they should see the reason behind younger population spending only 25 percent of the retail expenditure at departmental store, probably, then come out with some strategy to attract younger population, rather than focussing only on the middle-aged population. Furthermore, information should be there on how much increase will be in population of younger consumer in coming decade, because they will also have some market share in future.
Secondly, author is relying only on the percentage of the retail expenditure spend at departmental store, without looking at the total consumer base. Information should be there on the total number of younger consumer and middle aged consumer. It is possible that 25 percent of young consumer is much more than 39 percent of middle aged population.
As it stands, argument is weak. So, before drawing any conclusion, author should study the data related to younger consumer, and hence lookout for the ways to attract them also. Also, author should have more information related to total consumer base of various age group. Only then the argument could be strengthened.
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