Affirmative action is good business. So asserted the National Association of Manufacturers while urging retention of an executive order requiring some federal contractors to set numerical goals for hiring minorities and women. "Diversity in work force participation has produced new ideas in management, product development, and marketing," the association claimed.
Conclusion - Affirmative action is good business.
The conclusion is supported by the premise -
"Diversity in work force participation has produced new ideas in management, product development, and marketing"
So, what we can understand from the above argument is that -
Affirmative Action - is equivalent to the Diversity in work force participation (Inclusion of women and minorities)
Good Business - Innovation/New Ideas can lead to a good business
The association's argument as it is presented in the passage above would be most strengthened if which of the following were true?
(A) The percentage of minority and women workers in business has increased more slowly than many minority and women's groups would prefer.
This option statement does not provide any support for the conclusion that affirmative action is good business.
(B) Those businesses with the highest percentages of minority and women workers are those that have been the most innovative and profitable.
This option links innovation to profitability. Also, it provides a link of affirmative action (diversity of workforce) to a good business. So, its the correct answer.
(C) Disposable income has been rising as fast among minorities and women as among the population as a whole.
Its good that disposable income is rising but this option statement also does not provide any support for the conclusion that affirmative action is good business.
(D) The biggest growth in sales in the manufacturing sector has come in industries that market the most innovative products.
Here, innovation is linked to growth and that too in manufacturing sector only. It strengthens but this option is not as good as option B.
(E) Recent improvements in management practices have allowed many manufacturers to experience enormous gains in worker productivity.
This option statement also does not provide any support for the conclusion that affirmative action is good business.
Also, following youtube explanation is awesome for this question -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2bhYexOSyw
