Correctly measuring the productivity of service workers is complex. Co

Since the question stem refers to "the productivity measure described", let's make sure we understand what that means before analyzing the answer choices.

The passage states that postal workers "are often said to be more productive if more letters are delivered per postal worker". How is productivity being measured in this phrase? Only by the number of letters delivered (the output) per postal worker.

By asking, "But is this really true?", the author questions whether productivity of service workers can be measured solely by output per worker (or number of letters delivered per postal worker, in this case). This is the author's main objection. The author elaborates by asking, "What if more letters are lost or delayed per worker at the same time that more are delivered?" In that scenario, the output is increased (more letters are delivered) but the overall quality of the services performed is sacrificed, since more letters are lost or delayed.

So what's the question asking us for? Well, the author's objection (about whether productivity of service workers can be measured solely by output per worker) is "based on doubts about the truth of" one of the answer choices. Let's take them one at a time.


The author questions whether productivity can be measured solely by output and simply uses postal workers as an example; the author does not question whether postal workers are in fact representative of service workers in general. So (A) is gone.


By saying that postal workers "are often said to be more productive if more letters are delivered per postal worker", the author gives an example of using output (number of letters delivered) to measure productivity. The author does NOT imply that this measure of productivity is flawed because delivery of letters is not the primary activity of the postal service. Instead, the author implies that this measure is flawed because it doesn't address the quality of the services (i.e., lost or delayed letters). So we can cross out (B), too.


The author's objection relates to how productivity is measured, not to whether it is ascribed to categories of workers or to individuals. Although the author does discuss a category of workers (postal workers), the author doesn't address whether productivity should be measured at the level of groups or individuals. We can eliminate (C).


Remember that the author's main doubt is whether productivity can be measured solely by output per worker (i.e., number of letters delivered per postal worker, in this example). In the example about postal workers, the output per worker is increased, but quality of service declines. So in the passage, the author is clearly doubting whether quality can be appropriately ignored in computing productivity. So (D) looks good!


The author does not imply that the number of letters is not relevant to measuring the productivity of postal workers; rather, the author objects to whether productivity can be measured by output alone. The author implies that other factors, such as quality of services rendered, should be considered in addition to output when measuring productivity. So we can get rid of (E).

And that leaves us with (D).
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Total No of letters : 100

A's Delivery = 60 , B's delivery = 40 [ Theoretically A > B ]
A's letters lost = 30 , B's Letter lost = 5 { This part is ignored }

Effective Delivery of A = 30
Effective Delivery of B = 35

The objection implied above to the productivity measure described is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements?

(A) Postal workers are representative of service workers in general. - We know this , there is no doubt about this.

(B) The delivery of letters is the primary activity of the postal service. - We know this , there is no doubt about this.

(C) Productivity should be ascribed to categories of workers, not to individuals. - Out of scope.

(D) The quality of services rendered can appropriately be ignored in computing productivity. - Yes quality is word to ponder lets look further.

Effective Delivery of A = 30
Effective Delivery of B = 35

This part is definitely ignored while computing productivity.

(E) The number of letters delivered is relevant to measuring the productivity of postal workers.

If that is the case -

A's Delivery = 60 , B's delivery = 40 [ Theoretically productivity of A > B ]


Hence IMO (D) logically follows from the given options...
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Hi,

The Q is very straight forward if you understand the para..

para :- para talks of delivery of letter as considered a measure of productivity..
But then questions NOT counting the late or lost deliveries..
If you understand what delay and loss constitute, ANSWER is right in front..
Delay and loss relate to QUALITY of service..

D talks of this and also is the answer..

Also "The objection implied above to the productivity measure described is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements?" In a way tells you that the answer should be something the author wants to be incorporated.
With this as the basis of searching for the right choice, you can easily eliminate wrong choices.
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Attached is a visual that should help.

What sub-division of CR question is this? Can anyone please mention that, preferably in Powerscore question type classification??

I would say it is a weakening type question. The objection is based on doubt about truth of the correct choice, i.e., the objection is weakened by the correct choice.

Hi GMATNinja, GMATNinjaTwo,

I could not understand the q stem, but was with you on argument understanding.



Is this a weaken Q? Presenting my understanding of

The objection (in the argument) ... is based on doubts ... (which of below statements casts maximum doubt on the said objection)

Is this an assumption Q as kivalo pointed out?
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adkikani

Understanding the Question Stem

Argument Structure:

General Claim -> Example of a belief -> Author questions that belief.

QS:

"The objection implied above to the productivity measure described is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements?"

"Objection" -> weaken.
"truth" -> Assumption.

So Q is asking what is the assumption (that's commonly believed) is the author trying to weaken (i.e. object to). Btw this is a Method of Reasoning Q!

Hope this helps!

How to simplify such a seemingly complicated question stem?


Step 1:

The objection implied above to the productivity measure described -> this represents the objection mentioned in the last statement by the author. Let's call it conclusion-o (o - objection)

New question stem - "conclusion-o is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements?"

Step 2:
Let's remove doubts from the question stem for a moment. Now, we are left with this modified question stem "conclusion-o is based on the truth of which of the following statements?"

This modified question is clearly an assumption question.

Step 3:
Let's bring back 'doubts'

'conclusion-o assumes doubts about which of the following statements' -> one of the following statements is a negated assumption to the conclusion-o. This will also be the correct answer choice.

Step 4:
The answer choice is an assumption which breaks down the objection (since it is a negated assumption). Also, the answer choice is an assumption which supports the initial productivity argument.

The objection implied above to the productivity measure described "is based on doubts about the truth" of which of the following statements?

What does the bolded part mean?? I understand the objection implied by author ( i.e he is questioning the efficiency )

I approached in a fashion as described by PowerScore CR. Chronologically here's how i answered this question. Reading the Q-stem I tried figuring out what type it is? For a moment I thought its a weakening one but later part of Q-stem talks about truth of the options which made me believe that it must be 'must be true' or an 'assumption' type. Here i lost i think as i had doubt because i thought of Weakening first and later a bit of opposite of that.
Finally, after POE i was left with 'D' and 'E' and though i felt ideally the quality parameter must be the doubt of Author but chose E which is wrong.

Somehow i lost my track because I was trying to figure out what type Q is?
As rightly point out by chetan2u that its a straight forward Question and explained by GMATNinja, had i not gone into initially irrelevancy of trying to know what Q type it is, I must have chosen 'D' instead.
"One more learning"
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@gmatninja's note on (E) " rather, the author objects to whether productivity can be measured by output alone." is perfect in understanding why D is eliminated.

D is a statement that the author objects to because in D states that everything else (dumping letters, burning them or not spitting on them while delivering) can be ignored completely in computing the productivity of workers.

Understanding the Question Stem



Argument Structure:

General Claim -> Example of a belief -> Author questions that belief.

QS:

"The objection implied above to the productivity measure described is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements?"

"Objection" -> weaken.
"truth" -> Assumption.

So Q is asking what is the assumption (that's commonly believed) is the author trying to weaken (i.e. object to). Btw this is a Method of Reasoning Q!

Hope this helps!

This is a question that asks for the negation of the assumption. Let's see how.

The question stem is:
The objection implied above to the productivity measure described is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements?

The objection implied above to the productivity measure described=The author's opinion
Therefore, the author's opinion in based on something.
"Based on" tells us that the "something" here is an assumption.
So, "doubts about the truth of a choice"= assumption
Hence, we are doubting the validity of a statement, which means we are taking the statement to be false. And that falsification equals an assumption.

Thus, we can derive that the correct choice is the falsification of an assumption.
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Good explanation! It is an easy question if you think about it. I missed it because I didn't read D completely and correctly. My usual (annoying) tendency in quants showed up here..

Understanding the argument - ­
Correctly measuring the productivity of service workers is complex. - Opinion  
Consider, for example, postal workers: they are often said to be more productive if more letters are delivered per postal worker. - Fact. Example. 
But is this really true? What if more letters are lost or delayed per worker at the same time that more are delivered? - The implied conclusion by the author is that productivity needs to be based on the broader aspect of quality and not just one number, e.g., for postal deliveries. 

The objection implied (quality can't be ignored) above the productivity measure (number of letters delivered) described is based on doubts (we don't agree to that) about the truth (what the statement is saying) of which of the following statements?

(A) Postal workers are representative of service workers in general. - No doubt on the truth of this statement. 

(B) The delivery of letters is the primary activity of the postal service. - No doubt on the truth of this statement. The objection is on that this is the only activity for measuring productivity. 

(C) Productivity should be ascribed to categories of workers, not to individuals. - Out of scope. 

(D) The quality of services rendered can appropriately be ignored in computing productivity. - Truth of this statement is that we can ignore quality. But we do this, and that is the objection. Ok.

(E) The number of letters delivered is relevant to measuring the productivity of postal workers. - The truth of this statement is that the number of letters is important. We don't doubt this. The objection is about the quality. 

The contention is mostly between D and E.

(E) The number of letters delivered is relevant to measuring the productivity of postal workers.

Workers said to be more productive if more letters are delivered per postal worker. But is this really true? What if more letters are lost or delayed per worker at the same time that more are delivered? -
Casts doubt on -> Number of letters delivered is the only metrics -- doesn't cast doubt on the fact that it is one of the important metrics !

Hence E is wrong.