Critical Reasoning

The amount of time it takes for most of a worker's occupational knowledge and skills to become obsolete has been declining because of the introduction of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). Given the rate at which AMT is currently being introduced in manufacturing, the average worker's old skills become obsolete and new skills are required within as little as five years.

Which of the following plans, if feasible, would allow a company to prepare most effectively for the rapid obsolescence of skills described above?

(A) The company will develop a program to offer selected employees the opportunity to receive training six years after they were originally hired.

(B) The company will increase its investment in AMT every year for a period of at least five years.

(e) The company will periodically survey its employees to determine how the introduction of AMT has affected them.

(0) Before the introduction of AMT, the company will institute an educational program to inform its employees of the probable consequences of the introduction of AMT.

(E) The company will ensure that it can offer its employees any training necessary for meeting their job
requirements.

OA[spoiler] (E)[/spoiler]

I would choose E. The problem asks for you to find the answer choice that would help employers mitigate the affects of knowledge becoming obsolete.

A- Offering training 6 years after an employee was hired would not do that much for mitigating the affects of knowledge becoming obsolete.

B- Increasing their investment in AMT would do nothing to mitigate its affects. Their employees would need to be retrained so that their knowledge remains current and they remain productive

C- Surveying employees would not help mitigate the affects, but it would just make companies aware of the affects.

D- Having the employees aware of the consequences of AMT would not equip them to offset the affects of AMT

E- Correct

(A) The company will develop a program to offer selected employees the opportunity to receive training six years after they were originally hired.

it could become as low as 5 years. 6 years won't cut it. Eliminated!

(B) The company will increase its investment in AMT every year for a period of at least five years.

increase in AMT will not help stem the decrease in time for knowledge & skills to becme obsolete. In fact, it does the opposite. Eliminated!

(C) The company will periodically survey its employees to determine how the introduction of AMT has affected them.

Survey shmurvey. The survey wont actually make a difference. Its just a survey, not a course of action. Eliminated!

(D) Before the introduction of AMT, the company will institute an educational program to inform its employees of the probable consequences of the introduction of AMT.

Probable consqeuences of AMT - Sheesh. Outta scope. Eliminated!

(E) The company will ensure that it can offer its employees any training necessary for meeting their job
requirements.

Aha! Finally, something that would help mitigate the effects of knowledge becoming obsolete.

--> E