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- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 12:08 pm
Below is the Arugument given:
The following appeared in a memorandum to a team developing accounting software for SmartPro Software, Inc.:
"Currently, more professional accountants use SmartPro accounting software than any other brand. However, in the
market for personal accounting software for non-professionals to use in preparing their income tax returns, many of
our competitors are outselling us. In surveys, our professional customers repeatedly say that they have chosen
SmartPro Software because our most sophisticated software products include more advanced special features than
competing brands. Therefore, the most effective way for us to increase sales of our personal accounting software for
home users would clearly be to add the advanced special features that our professional software products currently
offer."
Below is my response:
In todays complicated tax filing system many companies are striving to create the most user friendly tax preparation software in order meet the needs of consumers.
In the preceding statement the author mentions that if Smartpro were to add additional advanced features to its non professional accounting software then the non professional software would be as popular as SmartPros professional software. Though the claim may well have merit the author presents a poorly reasoned argument, based on several questionable assumptions, based on the current evidence the author states we cannot accept this argument.
The primary issue with the authors reasoning lies in the assumptions made. For example, the author mentions that many of the professional accountants chose Smart pro because of Smartpros sophisticated features that non professionals doing their income taxes will also benefit from these features when doing their income taxes. This assumption lacks merit as non professional consumers may not need advanced features to do their income taxes, while professional accountants depend on advanced features because these features are most useful for many of the other financial projects that the accountants work on.
Another, unsubstantiated assumption that the author makes is that Smartpros non professional software, isn't as competitive in the market because it lacks advanced features, rather than the fact that competitors software may be more user friendly to the average consumer. If consumers aren't able to figure out how to use smartpros software adding additional features will unlikely raise sales.
Though there are issues with the authors argument, there are several ways that the argument can be improved substantially. For one, if a survey was conducted that asked non accountant consumers what features they would need in order to purchase Smartpros software, and many of them stated a specific feature that they would like added then the authors would have more evidence to support his conclusion.
Also, the author could gather data on other specific information such as how price competitive smartpros software is in the non accounting market.
In sum, the authors illogical argument is based on many unsubstantiated assumptions that render the conclusion invalid. If the author hopes to persuade an audience more evidence would need to be provided in order to fix the flaws in logic and explain the assumptions better.
Thank
The following appeared in a memorandum to a team developing accounting software for SmartPro Software, Inc.:
"Currently, more professional accountants use SmartPro accounting software than any other brand. However, in the
market for personal accounting software for non-professionals to use in preparing their income tax returns, many of
our competitors are outselling us. In surveys, our professional customers repeatedly say that they have chosen
SmartPro Software because our most sophisticated software products include more advanced special features than
competing brands. Therefore, the most effective way for us to increase sales of our personal accounting software for
home users would clearly be to add the advanced special features that our professional software products currently
offer."
Below is my response:
In todays complicated tax filing system many companies are striving to create the most user friendly tax preparation software in order meet the needs of consumers.
In the preceding statement the author mentions that if Smartpro were to add additional advanced features to its non professional accounting software then the non professional software would be as popular as SmartPros professional software. Though the claim may well have merit the author presents a poorly reasoned argument, based on several questionable assumptions, based on the current evidence the author states we cannot accept this argument.
The primary issue with the authors reasoning lies in the assumptions made. For example, the author mentions that many of the professional accountants chose Smart pro because of Smartpros sophisticated features that non professionals doing their income taxes will also benefit from these features when doing their income taxes. This assumption lacks merit as non professional consumers may not need advanced features to do their income taxes, while professional accountants depend on advanced features because these features are most useful for many of the other financial projects that the accountants work on.
Another, unsubstantiated assumption that the author makes is that Smartpros non professional software, isn't as competitive in the market because it lacks advanced features, rather than the fact that competitors software may be more user friendly to the average consumer. If consumers aren't able to figure out how to use smartpros software adding additional features will unlikely raise sales.
Though there are issues with the authors argument, there are several ways that the argument can be improved substantially. For one, if a survey was conducted that asked non accountant consumers what features they would need in order to purchase Smartpros software, and many of them stated a specific feature that they would like added then the authors would have more evidence to support his conclusion.
Also, the author could gather data on other specific information such as how price competitive smartpros software is in the non accounting market.
In sum, the authors illogical argument is based on many unsubstantiated assumptions that render the conclusion invalid. If the author hopes to persuade an audience more evidence would need to be provided in order to fix the flaws in logic and explain the assumptions better.
Thank
