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Re: what would you write for this essay topic ? [#permalink]
Hi,

I would challenge the assumption that the employees would be upset if the coffee cart were to be discontinued, as it ignores substantial differences between the coffee cart and snack machine and assumes that the coffee cart is actually popular/well-frequented by employees. If the latter were in fact the case, why wouldn't sales cover the costs of maintaining it? Further information is needed to determine how many employees actually would be affected and/or disgruntled. Also, there may be a better way to address the problem with low employee morale rather than continuing to cover the costs of a not necessarily well-received employee perk.
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Re: what would you write for this essay topic ? [#permalink]
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The memorandum to the work-group supervisors of the GBS Company recommends that supervisors remind their respective groups to patronize the CoffeeCart beverage and food service. The recommendation is supported by the fact that the earning of the cart is not enough to cover its costs, hence, the cart may discontinue operating at GBS. In addition, it is assumed that the closing of the cart will be problematic as employee morale is already low. The memo also states that the questionnaire showed widespread dissatisfaction with the snack machines. The argument is based on assumptions for which there is no clear evidence. Hence, the argument is unconvincing and has several flaws.

First, the argument readily assumes that the loss of the cart will be problematic. However, there is no further information presented to support this assumption. It is as likely that the opposite is true. Since the employees are not satisfied with the service or food options available at the Cart, they choose not to purchase food from it. If the Cart closes, it is possible that the new vendor may provide better service to the employees thereby increasing employee morale.

Second, the memo suggests that supervisors remind their respective groups to patronize the Cart so that the sales are increased. The underlying assumption is that if employees are asked to buy food from the Cart, it help increase the sales. Even if this strategy works in the short term and helps increase the sales temporarily, it is highly doubtful that the sales will sustain for a long-term if there are other factors affecting the sales. It is possible that the food options or service provided at the Cart is not good leading to fewer sales. Instead of asking employees to patronize the Cart, it would be more helpful to look into the factors affecting low sales, such as lack of quick service, limited food options etc.

In conclusion, without further information, the memo is not very convincing. The author must provide additional information and further evidence to support the reasoning and various assumptions of the argument.
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Re: what would you write for this essay topic ? [#permalink]
Please rate my essay - :) thank you


The following appeared in a memorandum to the work-group supervisors of the GBS Company:
“The CoffeeCart beverage and food service located in the lobby of our main office building is not earning enough in sales to cover its costs, and so the cart may discontinue operating at GBS. Given the low staff morale, as evidenced by the increase in the number of employees leaving the company, the loss of this service could present a problem, especially since the staff morale questionnaire showed widespread dissatisfaction with the snack machines. Therefore, supervisors should remind the employees in their group to patronize the cart-after all, it was leased for their convenience so that they would not have to walk over to the cafeteria on breaks.”

********

The excerpt is taken from the memorandum to the work-grop supervisors of the GBS company in which the author states that the supervisors should remind the employees in their group to patronize the coffeeCart as it is not making enough sales to even cover its costs. The argument as stated in its current form is not persuasive and lacks logic and further details on the reasoning as to why coffeecart is not making enough sales.


First, the argument, without getting much into the details of the reasons for which the coffeecart is not making enough sales, suggests to convince employees to make purchases. Considerting various factors for example, the beverages and food available at the cart is not good in taste or is not hygienic or the cart lacks enough variety to attract employees as customers, also it could be possible that the prices charged at the cart are high and not reasonable which could perhaps be the result of employees not earning enough money to be able to shop at cart and the least, but not to be completely ignored, a possibility that the employees prefer to go to cafetaria on their breaks and the cart is strategically kept near their work place to cut the timing on the breaks.


Second, as stated in the argument that the employees are already low in morale and leaving company could suggest the possibility of dissatisfaction with the salaries offered by the company. Furthermore, the argument mentioned that the staff is low with which it can be concluded that the sales are low due to less staff and not due to existing staff not using cart services.


Finally, it would be contradictory to say that the employees are already dissatisfied with the snack machine and if coffeecart shuts down then it will be a problem for the employees (already low in morale) from which it implies that the existing employees wants the coffeecart and are using it.


In conclusion, the arugment lacks logic and detailed study of other factors which could have affected the sales at coffeecart. The author fails to present relevant evidence that would convince the reader of his position. if the author had provided the reasoning behind his conclusion, the argument would have been strengthened. In its current form, the argument is unpersuasive.
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Re: what would you write for this essay topic ? [#permalink]
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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Re: what would you write for this essay topic ? [#permalink]
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