GMAT Essays (AWA)

The following appeared in the editorial section of a corporate newsletter:
“The common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management issues is false, or at least outdated: a recently published survey indicates that 79 percent of the nearly 1,200 workers who responded to survey questionnaires expressed a high level of interest in the topics of corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs.”
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
The above argument states that the common notion that the workers are apathetic about management issues is not true. The author provides evidence that the 79 percent of 1200 workers who responded to a survey showed much interest in the topics of corporate management issues. The argument is convincing to some extent. There are some loop holes that I will discuss in the following paragraphs.
Firstly, the evidence provided to support the above argument covers only two areas of management issues that are corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs. Management issues includes the management and organization of many broad issues like product planning, research, production and distribution, hiring and firing of employees, employees training etc. the two issues mentioned are not the representative of the others. Therefore, it is not justified to conclude that employees take high interests in management issues based on information about only two issues.

Secondly, the two management issues mentioned above are of great interest to the employees. Almost every worker in an organization takes high interest in the issues of benefits provided to the workers. Because, an increase or decrease in employees benefits directly affects the worker. No employee wants a reduction in the benefits provided by the employees. On the other hand, an increase in benefits is highly welcomed. Therefore, employees are interested in the decision making is matters related to benefits program. Likewise, topic of corporate restructuring might involve promotion and demotion of employees and therefore employees want their contribution in these issues.
On the basis of the above information, it can be concluded that the above argument could have been made stronger and more reasonable if the survey had shown interest of employees in various aspects of management issues.