BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

new auto sales manager

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 5:37 am

new auto sales manager

by vertigo05 » Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:29 am
Before we hired the new auto sales manager, Roger, our sales rose by 25% per year. This year, after we hired Roger, sales dropped by 5%. We should fire Roger. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion above?

A) The transfer of responsibility to Roger caused short term problems.

B) Roger has a track record of sales success in prior sales jobs.

C) Roger was hired because we believed he would increase sales.

D) General demand for automobiles has declined this year.

E) Roger scored the highest on sales evaluation tests.
Top
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
Legendary Member
Posts: 1035
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:56 pm
Thanked: 104 times
Followed by:1 members

by scoobydooby » Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:32 am
A. strengthens the conclusion

B. prior job performance is out of scope

C. rationale for hiring Roger is out of scope

D. explains an alternative cause for the poor sales performance=> Roger not responsible=>weakens the conlusion that Roger should be fired

E. Roger might have scored high in a test, but the fact remains that the actual sales peformance of the company suffered. doesnt affect the conclusion

hence D
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 467
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:19 pm
Thanked: 27 times
Followed by:1 members

by karmayogi » Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:06 am
B, C and E are easy to eliminate. I got confused between A and D. My interpretations:
A: The option shows that any new manager takes some time to adjust. During this transition phase, some intial reduction in sales is expected. Hence, if company fires Roger and hires a new manager then sales might drop further. Therefore, company should not fire Roger. This weakens the conclusion.

D: This option is straight. Overall auto market condition itself is grim, so is the company's sale.

Although I selected D, I didn't find D having any clear merit over A. Looks like I have assumed too much in A; is that the case?
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divine within.
--By Swami Vivekananda
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 5:37 am

by vertigo05 » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:33 am
thanx scoobydooby and karmyogi. I was also confused between two choices, A and D. I went for A. but how can A strengthen the conclusion as said by scoobydooby? OA is D. In case of options like D should we assume that the demand for every company has decreased?
Top
User avatar
MBA Student
Posts: 1194
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:42 pm
Location: Paris, France
Thanked: 71 times
Followed by:17 members
GMAT Score:710

by gmat740 » Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:10 pm
@vertigo05

While I was reading the question, I arrived to the conclusion even before reading the options.

Actually here the conclusion is to fire Roger, why??
Because he is not able to increase sales, rather the sales decreased after he was hired.

Now we have been given a fact that the sales decreased,But if we are able to find an alternate explanation to the decrease in the sales,so we can prove the Roger was fine with his job!

D provides that alternate explanation
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 100
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:58 am

by vanessa.m » Sun May 15, 2016 2:14 am
I will go with D
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1