The following was used as part of an internet advertising company's appeal to businesses: "Furniture Depot employed our internet advertising company to help. Since then its sales increased by 10% over last year's totals. Furniture Depot's success demonstrates how using our internet services can increase your profitability."
Describe how well reasoned you find this argument. In the discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the argument's conclusion. You may also address possible changes in the argument that would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion
When considering whether to employ an outside consultant such as an internet advertising company, many companies seek a track record of success. The argument made by the internet advertising company would be a good case study example for prospective clients, however, the argument made has serious flaws. With only the information provided in this passage, the assumptions and premises that lead to the final conclusion are not substantiated.
Primarily, the passage implies that Furniture Depot increased its sales 10% since last year as a direct result of hiring the advertising company. This assumption is flawed because it lacks evidentiary support and does not address other factors that may have played a part in the sales increase. For example, the sales increase may have been due to a change completely unrelated to the internet advertising efforts, such as a regional to national expansion, an increase in a certain line of furniture. Or perhaps last year's sales were unusually low due to economic factor such as recession. The advertising company fails to provide a link between the sales increase the help they provided.
Secondarily, the advertising company bases the word "success" on the increase in Furniture Depot's sales numbers. The point is based on the premise that a sales increase is the measure of success for Furniture Depot. Unfortunately, this is a flawed premise because it does not take into account other factors that determine a company's success. The case may be that the costs associated with hiring the advertising company increased to an amount that that actually lowered the gross profit even though sales increased. The passage fails to address Furniture Depot's return on investment working with the advertising company. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the internet services increases a company's profitability.
Although there are serious flaws in the argument presented, the conclusion may be strengthened by providing evidentiary support and using more specific language. First, the advertising company may include more information about how its services directly led to the increase in sales. For example, if Furniture Depot primarily makes its sales over the internet, the company may state that the services to increase Furniture Depot's online search ranking led to an increase in clickthroughs, which were directly attributable to an increase of 10% in online sales. Furthermore, if the company were to prove that the cost of its services were far less than the total of increase in sales, the conclusion that the a company's profitability increases can be proven valid.
In conclusion, although this argument presents serious flaws, with some strengthening support and specific terms, the advertising company could use this case study to entice future prospective clients.
Describe how well reasoned you find this argument. In the discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the argument's conclusion. You may also address possible changes in the argument that would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion
When considering whether to employ an outside consultant such as an internet advertising company, many companies seek a track record of success. The argument made by the internet advertising company would be a good case study example for prospective clients, however, the argument made has serious flaws. With only the information provided in this passage, the assumptions and premises that lead to the final conclusion are not substantiated.
Primarily, the passage implies that Furniture Depot increased its sales 10% since last year as a direct result of hiring the advertising company. This assumption is flawed because it lacks evidentiary support and does not address other factors that may have played a part in the sales increase. For example, the sales increase may have been due to a change completely unrelated to the internet advertising efforts, such as a regional to national expansion, an increase in a certain line of furniture. Or perhaps last year's sales were unusually low due to economic factor such as recession. The advertising company fails to provide a link between the sales increase the help they provided.
Secondarily, the advertising company bases the word "success" on the increase in Furniture Depot's sales numbers. The point is based on the premise that a sales increase is the measure of success for Furniture Depot. Unfortunately, this is a flawed premise because it does not take into account other factors that determine a company's success. The case may be that the costs associated with hiring the advertising company increased to an amount that that actually lowered the gross profit even though sales increased. The passage fails to address Furniture Depot's return on investment working with the advertising company. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the internet services increases a company's profitability.
Although there are serious flaws in the argument presented, the conclusion may be strengthened by providing evidentiary support and using more specific language. First, the advertising company may include more information about how its services directly led to the increase in sales. For example, if Furniture Depot primarily makes its sales over the internet, the company may state that the services to increase Furniture Depot's online search ranking led to an increase in clickthroughs, which were directly attributable to an increase of 10% in online sales. Furthermore, if the company were to prove that the cost of its services were far less than the total of increase in sales, the conclusion that the a company's profitability increases can be proven valid.
In conclusion, although this argument presents serious flaws, with some strengthening support and specific terms, the advertising company could use this case study to entice future prospective clients.
