The following appeared in the editorial section of a corporate newsletter.
"The common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management issues
is false, or at least outdated: a recently published survey indicates that 79 percent of
the nearly 1,200 workers who responded to survey questionnaires expressed a high
level of interest in the topics of corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits
programs."
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.
The author argues that the common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management issues is false or at least outdated. Author cites the workers' response to a survey on management issues as an evidence to support this stand. However, this evidence is not strong enough as it doesn't necessarily represent all workers and also the topics chosen for the survey doesn't represent a complete set of management issues.
First, the survey which author is showing as evidence takes in account 1200 workers. Based on this, author draws a generalized and strong conclusion. There is no reason to believe that the 1200 workers would represent complete set of workers. Moreover, it is possible that only workers who are really interested in management issues would have participated in the survey. So, this evidence is not sufficient to support the argument.
Second, there is no specific information given about the kind of workers who participated in the survey. White collared workers in technological companies are generally more interested towards management decisions compared with workers in manufacturing industries. If the survey is conducted in a technological firm there is always a chance of this percentage being higher. Without specific details of worker group involved in the survey it is difficult to conclude that workers are now more interested towards management issues.
Third, there is no evidence given to show that the topics chosen for the survey represent management issues. Moreover, these might be the topics on which workers generally are interested and so the high percent turnover to the survey doesn't actually signify a high level of interest in workers towards all management issues.
To conclude, the evidence cited in the argument is not strong enough to support the argument. To strengthen the argument, author should provide details of the worker group covered in the survey. Additionally, author should prove that the questions chosen for the survey actually represent the management issues. As it stands now, argument is not convincing.
"The common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management issues
is false, or at least outdated: a recently published survey indicates that 79 percent of
the nearly 1,200 workers who responded to survey questionnaires expressed a high
level of interest in the topics of corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits
programs."
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.
The author argues that the common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management issues is false or at least outdated. Author cites the workers' response to a survey on management issues as an evidence to support this stand. However, this evidence is not strong enough as it doesn't necessarily represent all workers and also the topics chosen for the survey doesn't represent a complete set of management issues.
First, the survey which author is showing as evidence takes in account 1200 workers. Based on this, author draws a generalized and strong conclusion. There is no reason to believe that the 1200 workers would represent complete set of workers. Moreover, it is possible that only workers who are really interested in management issues would have participated in the survey. So, this evidence is not sufficient to support the argument.
Second, there is no specific information given about the kind of workers who participated in the survey. White collared workers in technological companies are generally more interested towards management decisions compared with workers in manufacturing industries. If the survey is conducted in a technological firm there is always a chance of this percentage being higher. Without specific details of worker group involved in the survey it is difficult to conclude that workers are now more interested towards management issues.
Third, there is no evidence given to show that the topics chosen for the survey represent management issues. Moreover, these might be the topics on which workers generally are interested and so the high percent turnover to the survey doesn't actually signify a high level of interest in workers towards all management issues.
To conclude, the evidence cited in the argument is not strong enough to support the argument. To strengthen the argument, author should provide details of the worker group covered in the survey. Additionally, author should prove that the questions chosen for the survey actually represent the management issues. As it stands now, argument is not convincing.
