Reading Comprehension

According to P. F. Drucker, the management philosophy known as Total Quality Management (TQM), which is designed to be adopted consistently throughout an organization and to improve customer service by using sampling theory to reduce the variability of a product's quality, can work successfully in conjunction with two older management systems. As Drucker notes, TQM's scientific approach is consistent with the statistical sampling techniques of the "rationalist" school of scientific management, and the organizational structure associated with TQM is consistent with the social and psychological emphases of the "human relations" school of management.

However, TQM cannot simply be grafted onto these systems or onto certain other non-TQM management systems. Although, as Drucker contends, TQM shares with such systems the ultimate objective of increasing profitability, TQM requires fundamentally different strategies. While the other management systems referred to use upper management decision-making and employee specialization to maximize shareholder profits over the short term, TQM envisions the interests of employees, shareholders, and customers as convergent. For example, lower prices not only benefit consumers but also enhance an organization's competitive edge and ensure its continuance, thus benefiting employees and owners. TQM's emphasis on shared interests is reflected in the decentralized decision-making, integrated production activity, and lateral structure of organizations that achieve the benefits of TQM.

Question#01:
The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) point out contradictions in a new management system
(B) compare and contrast the objectives of various management systems
(C) identify the organizational features shared by various management systems
(D) explain the relationship of a particular management system to certain other management systems
(E) explain the advantages of a particular management system over certain other management systems

Question#02:
Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second paragraph to the first paragraph?

(A) It presents contrasting explanations for a phenomenon presented in the first paragraph.
(B) It discusses an exception to a general principle outlined in the first paragraph.
(C) It provides information that qualifies a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(D) It presents an example that strengthens a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(E) It presents an alternative approach to solving a problem discussed in the first paragraph.

Question#03:
According to the passage, the rationalist and human relations schools of management are alike in that they

(A) are primarily interested in increasing profits
(B) place little emphasis on issues of organizational structure
(C) use statistical sampling techniques to increase profitability
(D) are unlikely to lower prices in order to increase profitability
(E) focus chiefly on setting and attaining long-term objectives

Question#01:
The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) point out contradictions in a new management system
(B) compare and contrast the objectives of various management systems
(C) identify the organizational features shared by various management systems
(D) explain the relationship of a particular management system to certain other management systems
(E) explain the advantages of a particular management system over certain other management systems
[Between D and E not really sure why E could be wrong?]
Question#02:
Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second paragraph to the first paragraph?

(A) It presents contrasting explanations for a phenomenon presented in the first paragraph.
(B) It discusses an exception to a general principle outlined in the first paragraph.
(C) It provides information that qualifies a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(D) It presents an example that strengthens a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(E) It presents an alternative approach to solving a problem discussed in the first paragraph.
[IMO A . The first para : "(TQM), which is designed to be adopted consistently throughout an organization and to improve customer service by using sampling theory to reduce the variability of a product's quality, can work successfully in conjunction with two older management systems."

Second Para :"However, TQM cannot simply be grafted onto these systems or onto certain other non-TQM management systems. Although, as Drucker contends, TQM shares with such systems the ultimate objective of increasing profitability, TQM requires fundamentally different strategies. ]"

Question#03:
According to the passage, the rationalist and human relations schools of management are alike in that they

(A) are primarily interested in increasing profits
(B) place little emphasis on issues of organizational structure
(C) use statistical sampling techniques to increase profitability
(D) are unlikely to lower prices in order to increase profitability
(E) focus chiefly on setting and attaining long-term objectives

[IMO C . As Drucker notes, TQM's scientific approach is consistent with the statistical sampling techniques of the "rationalist" school of scientific management, and the organizational structure associated with TQM is consistent with the social and psychological emphases of the "human relations" school of management. ]

THIS ONE IS A CLASSICAL GMAT TYPE RC

IMO : B,A,A

Took 8 mins IMO E B A
1 )The primary purpose of the passage is to
Changed it at the last moment to D cos
lower prices not only benefit consumers but also enhance an organization's competitive edge and ensure its continuance, thus benefiting employees and owners - the benfits of TQM are multi pronged not just that
TQM shares with such systems the ultimate objective of increasing profitability
the above sentence is justification for choosing
3) Option A
2) Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second paragraph to the first paragraph?
(B) It discusses an exception to a general principle outlined in the first paragraph.
(TQM) can work successfully in conjunction with two older management systems. ... TQM's scientific approach is consistent with the statistical sampling techniques of the "rationalist" school of scientific management, and the organizational structure "human relations" school of management.
However, TQM cannot simply be grafted onto these systems or onto certain other non-TQM management systems

Took 4.10 mins.
DCA

same here
DCA

OA please

gmat_perfect wrote:According to P. F. Drucker, the management philosophy known as Total Quality Management (TQM), which is designed to be adopted consistently throughout an organization and to improve customer service by using sampling theory to reduce the variability of a product's quality, can work successfully in conjunction with two older management systems. As Drucker notes, TQM's scientific approach is consistent with the statistical sampling techniques of the "rationalist" school of scientific management, and the organizational structure associated with TQM is consistent with the social and psychological emphases of the "human relations" school of management.

However, TQM cannot simply be grafted onto these systems or onto certain other non-TQM management systems. Although, as Drucker contends, TQM shares with such systems the ultimate objective of increasing profitability, TQM requires fundamentally different strategies. While the other management systems referred to use upper management decision-making and employee specialization to maximize shareholder profits over the short term, TQM envisions the interests of employees, shareholders, and customers as convergent. For example, lower prices not only benefit consumers but also enhance an organization's competitive edge and ensure its continuance, thus benefiting employees and owners. TQM's emphasis on shared interests is reflected in the decentralized decision-making, integrated production activity, and lateral structure of organizations that achieve the benefits of TQM.

Question#01:
The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) point out contradictions in a new management system
(B) compare and contrast the objectives of various management systems
(C) identify the organizational features shared by various management systems
(D) explain the relationship of a particular management system to certain other management systems
(E) explain the advantages of a particular management system over certain other management systems

Question#02:
Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second paragraph to the first paragraph?

(A) It presents contrasting explanations for a phenomenon presented in the first paragraph.
(B) It discusses an exception to a general principle outlined in the first paragraph.
(C) It provides information that qualifies a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(D) It presents an example that strengthens a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(E) It presents an alternative approach to solving a problem discussed in the first paragraph.

Question#03:
According to the passage, the rationalist and human relations schools of management are alike in that they

(A) are primarily interested in increasing profits
(B) place little emphasis on issues of organizational structure
(C) use statistical sampling techniques to increase profitability
(D) are unlikely to lower prices in order to increase profitability
(E) focus chiefly on setting and attaining long-term objectives

DAB

What's the OA?

IMO DCA .

What are OA ?

I agree with DCA.

The passage talks about how TQM is different from older management systems, but never says that is better. The key here is that the passage implies that the "rationalist" school of management emphasizes statistical analysis while the "human relations" school of management emphasizes organizational structure. TQM integrates both. Nowhere in the passage does it state that results are better under TQM because of certain differences. Although one could infer that TQM is better because it is consistent with both older schools of management, there is no indication in the passage that it has been proven better. Therefore, saying that the primary purpose is to outline advantages seems untrue because it is not clear that there are definite advantages. So D seems like a better choice than E.

The first paragraph explains what TQM is and that it is consistent with older management systems. The second elaborates on this premise, explaining how it is consistent and what to watch out for when implementing it. The second paragraph doesn't contradict that TQM is consistent with other schools, but states that implementation is more complicated than just grafting TQM onto existing systems. So there is not a contrasting explanation, an exception, a strengthening example or an alternate approach in the second paragraph. The best answer is C because the second paragraph merely qualifies the claim that it is consistent with older systems by explaining that it is only consistent if implemented correctly.

For the third question, B and C both refer to the rationalist school, and do not refer to the HR school at all. E is not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the paragraph, and can likely be eliminated as well. In the passage, it is said that TQM views lower prices as beneficial to all parties involved, but no indication is made regarding how the other schools of management perceive price reduction. So a conclusion that they are unlikely to lower prices is unfounded. This leaves A as the best answer, and this conclusion is supported by the sentence: ... TQM shares with such systems the ultimate objective of increasing profitability.

why in question # 2
'B' is wrong..
author had given some exceptions why the propose would not be implemented properly if certain things were not taken into considerations.

Can an expert help provide explanations to the OA?

Dear Experts,
Can you please help to explain why OA is C and not B for Q.2?

Claim made in the first para was that TQM is aligned with other management systems.
In second para, there is "HOWEVER" and then a contrasting point.

Answer choices A and B are close. I went for B.


Question#02:
Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second paragraph to the first paragraph?

(A) It presents contrasting explanations for a phenomenon presented in the first paragraph.
(B) It discusses an exception to a general principle outlined in the first paragraph.
(C) It provides information that qualifies a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(D) It presents an example that strengthens a claim presented in the first paragraph.
(E) It presents an alternative approach to solving a problem discussed in the first paragraph.

Thanks a lot.

Pritish