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Lark Manufacturing Company initiated a voluntary Quality [#permalink]
 22 Sep 2010, 10:44
Question Stats:
40% (03:19) correct
60% (02:00) wrong based on 0 sessions
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 existence than they were at the program’s start. Obviously, any workers who participate in a Quality Circles program will, as a result, become less satisfied with their jobs. Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion drawn above 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 their previous companies, their work satisfaction had increased. (E) The machine operators who participated in Quality Circles reported that, when the program started, they felt that participation might improve their work situations.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
22 Sep 2010, 10:58
I used the process of elimination to get this one. We need to find a fact which strengthens the conclusion. A is irrelevant. B,C,D all weaken the conclusion. We are left with option E. (E) The machine operators who participated in Quality Circles reported that, when the program started, they felt that participation might improve their work situations. And when their work situations did not improve despite them participating in Quality Circles, they were more dissatisfied than at the start of the program.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
22 Sep 2010, 12:07
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raghavs wrote: 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 existence than they were at the program’s start. Obviously, any workers who participate in a Quality Circles program will, as a result, become less satisfied with their jobs.
Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion drawn above EXCEPT:
(A) The second survey occurred during a period of recession when rumors of cutbacks and layoffs at Lark Manufacturing were plentiful.
It is relevant but weakens it. This gives an alternative explanation for less job satisfaction with their work situations..
(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.
Weaken.
(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.
Weaken.
(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 their previous companies, their work satisfaction had increased.
Weaken.
(E) The machine operators who participated in Quality Circles reported that, when the program started, they felt that participation might improve their work situations.
This is how machine operators felt at the START of their participation. If you read the premise and the conclusion, it is based on what actually happened, not what they FELT. This does not affect the conclusion at all.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
22 Sep 2010, 12:14
Nice one raghavs. Right choice is E. Used the POE ! siyer, I disagree with you on what we are looking for. Even though we both reached the same conclusion. We are NOT looking for something that will strengthen the conclusion. But we are looking for something that is relevant and does not weaken the conclusion. Weakens - coz the reason of dropped satisfaction might not be the circles but the recession (A) The second survey occurred during a period of recession when rumors of cutbacks and layoffs at Lark Manufacturing were plentiful. Weakens. Everyone's satisfaction dropped, not just the participants, so weaken the conlcusion that the drop is satisfaction can be attributed to the program(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. Weakens - since ppl exhibited increased satis(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. Weakens - since employee in other company had higher satisfaction - conclusion says: any workers who participate in a Quality Circles program will, as a result, become less satisfied with their jobs. Not true(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 their previous companies, their work satisfaction had increased. Not strengthening it, but not weakening it either - note that ALL CHOICES EXCEPT ONE ARE SUPPOSE TO WEAKEN THE CONCLUSION(E) The machine operators who participated in Quality Circles reported that, when the program started, they felt that participation might improve their work situations.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
22 Sep 2010, 13:32
I think E is best as well. You can do it via POE or just reasoning on this ques. The *might* gives "hope" to not being weaken as well
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
22 Sep 2010, 14:06
E but D is close too.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
22 Sep 2010, 16:54
Here's why people might have gotten confused with this one - When you read the question stem you want to look for answers that strengthen the conclusion. We are asked for an answer that doesn't weaken the conclusion - this could mean a choice that strengthens it, or a choice that doesn't affect it at all.
Dawgie's explanation seems to be most valid, in my opinion. +1 Dawg.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company [#permalink]
24 Sep 2010, 19:23
Ans A B C D clearly weaken the conclusion. E is the only left without that effect.
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Re: Lark Manufacturing Company
[#permalink]
24 Sep 2010, 19:23
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