Following several years of declining advertising sales, the Greenville Times reorganized its
advertising sales force two years ago. Before the reorganization, the sales force was organized
geographically, with some sales representatives concentrating on city-center businesses and
others concentrating on different outlying regions. The reorganization attempted to increase
the sales representatives' knowledge of clients' businesses by having each sales representative
deal with only one type of industry or of retailing. After the reorganization, advertising sales
increased. In assessing whether the improvement in advertising sales can properly
be attributed to the reorganization, it would be helpful to find out each of the
following EXCEPT:
A. Two years ago, what proportion of the Greenville Times’ total revenue was generated by
advertising sales?
B. Has the circulation of the Greenville Times increased substantially in the last two years?
C. Has there been a substantial turnover in personnel in the advertising sales force over the last
two years?
D. Before the reorganization, had sales representatives found it difficult to keep up with relevant
developments in all types of businesses to which they are assigned?
E. Has the economy in Greenville and the surrounding regions been growing rapidly over the last
two years?


hovv is A the right ansvver hovv does it help to evaluate
vvhat is the reasoning behind it

Experts pls help

Responding to a pm:

The argument boils down to this:
Advertising sales were declining. The paper reorganized the advertising sales team two yrs back. Advertising sales increased after reorganization. Now you want to figure out whether the increase actually happened due to the reorganization. So you need to evaluate what else could have caused the increase in sales. Say, if the lead of the sales team had changed 2 yrs back, it is possible that he is responsible for the increase in revenue rather than the reorganization. 4 of the 5 options will raise some such questions and the leftover option (which will be our answer) will have nothing to do with the increase in advertising sales.

A. Two years ago, what proportion of the Greenville Times’ total revenue was generated by
advertising sales?
The proportion of advertising sales as a part of total revenue is immaterial to us. We only need to evaluate why the advertising sales increased. It is possible that the revenue from other sources has increased much more than the revenue from advertising sales and hence advertising sales could be smaller proportion of the overall revenue now but it doesn't matter at all. This option has nothing to do with the increase in advertising sales and hence, is the answer.
Let's take a look at all the other options too.


B. Has the circulation of the Greenville Times increased substantially in the last two years?
If the circulation increased substantially, that could have led to increase in advertising sales instead of the reorganization.

C. Has there been a substantial turnover in personnel in the advertising sales force over the last
two years?
If there has been a substantial personnel turnover, better people could have been hired which could have led to higher advertising sales instead of reorganization.

D. Before the reorganization, had sales representatives found it difficult to keep up with relevant
developments in all types of businesses to which they are assigned?
Did reorganization make keeping track of relevant developments easier? It can help us evaluate whether reorganization was responsible for the increase in sales.

E. Has the economy in Greenville and the surrounding regions been growing rapidly over the last
two years?
If the economy has grown rapidly in the past two yrs, it could have been responsible for the higher advertising sales instead of reorganization.

Answer (A)
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Question Stem: In assessing whether the improvement in advertising sales can properly be attributed to the reorganization, it would be helpful to find out each of the following EXCEPT

It means all help EXCEPT means, which does not help "assess" - any option which is irrelevant to "assessment" will be the CORRECT choice

A: seems irrelevant - Contender for CORRECT choice
B: Substantial increase in last 2yrs help in evaluating the validity of argument
C: Has the workforce changed? So, again it is relevant
D: Before reorganization, was lack of knowledge was a challenge, relevant to evaluate
E: Has external factors changed - very relevant

So, A be it

Cheers
GODSPEED

Following several years of declining advertising sales, the Greenville Times reorganized its
advertising sales force two years ago. Before the reorganization, the sales force was organized
geographically, with some sales representatives concentrating on city-center businesses and
others concentrating on different outlying regions. The reorganization attempted to increase
the sales representatives' knowledge of clients' businesses by having each sales representative
deal with only one type of industry or of retailing. After the reorganization, advertising sales
increased. In assessing whether the improvement in advertising sales can properly
be attributed to the reorganization, it would be helpful to find out each of the
following EXCEPT:
A. Two years ago, what proportion of the Greenville Times’ total revenue was generated by
advertising sales?
B. Has the circulation of the Greenville Times increased substantially in the last two years?
C. Has there been a substantial turnover in personnel in the advertising sales force over the last
two years?
D. Before the reorganization, had sales representatives found it difficult to keep up with relevant
developments in all types of businesses to which they are assigned?
E. Has the economy in Greenville and the surrounding regions been growing rapidly over the last
two years?


For evaluation questions the answer to question in correct choice should either strengthen or weaken the argument, here its an except question so 4 choices to check for.

A) Keep on hold

B)If the circulation has increased then the increased sales could be attributed to circulation and not necessarily reorg. Weakens
C)If there is substantial turnover in person in Ad sales that means more people in sales have joined and as a result sales has shot up , reorg is not the necessary reason. Weakens
D)If sales rep found it difficult to grasp business concept that means reorg has actually benefited the sales , cause now representatives will work on their core areas. Strengthens
E)If economy has grown rapidly then one could attribute the increased sales to economic factors and not reorg. Weakens
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