Lark Manufacturing Company initiated a voluntary Quality

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Lark Manufacturing Company initiated a voluntary Quality Circles program for machine operators. Independent surveys of employee attitudes indicated that the machine operators participating in the program were less satisfied with their work situations after two years of the program's start. Obviously, any workers who participate in a Quality Circles program will, as a result, become less satisfied with their job.

All weaken EXCEPT:

A. The second survey occurred during a period of recession when rumors of cutbacks and layoffs at Lark Manufacturing were plentiful.

B. The surveys also showed that those Lark machine operators who neither participated in Quality Circles nor knew anyone who did so reported the same degree of lessened satisfaction with their work situations as did the Lark machine operators who participated in Quality Circles.

C. While participating in Quality Circles at Lark Manufacturing, machine operators exhibited two of the primary indicators of improved job satisfaction: increased productivity and decreased absenteeism.

D. Several workers at Lark Manufacturing who had participated in Quality Circles while employed at other companies reported that while participating in Quality Circles in previous companies, their work satisfaction has increased.

E. The machine operators who participate in Quality Circles reported that when the program started, they felt that participation might improve their work situation.

What is wrong with the other Options? Is the answer choice not related to the argument?

OA E

[VJesus12]

I think option B could be correct. Any expert can tell us how to solve this CR question?

[EconomistGMATTutor]

To start with, this is an EXCEPT question. Four choices will weaken the conclusion. One won't.

The conclusion: Obviously, any workers who participate in a Quality Circles program will, as a result, become less satisfied with their job.

The evidence: Independent surveys of employee attitudes indicated that the machine operators participating in the program were less satisfied with their work situations after two years of the program's start.

Choice A provides an alternate explanation for the dissatisfaction: low morale. This weakens the conclusion.
Choice B indicates that those who did NOT take part in the program also felt less satisfied. This strongly casts doubt on the Quality Circles program as the culprit.
Choice C indicates that the survey results were not completely accurate. The machine operators DID exhibit increased job satisfaction. This weakens the conclusion.
Choice D shows that the Quality Circles program led to job satisfaction elsewhere. This weakens the conclusion that the program leads to job dissatisfaction.

Choice E discusses what the operators thought might happen beforehand. This is irrelevant. Our only concern is what did happen. Since this has no effect on the conclusion, it's the right answer.