Passage Analysis
• Super Express Shipping Company has implemented a new distribution system
o The company named Super Express Shipping Company has brought into action a new system for the distribution of packages it should deliver.
• that can get almost every package to its destination the day after it is sent.
o This new distribution system can make nearly all the packages reach the destination the next day itself.
• The company worries that this more efficient system will result in lower sales of its premium next-day delivery service, because its two-day service will usually arrive the following day anyway.
o The company is concerned whether this new system, which is more efficient than what was previously followed, lead to reduced sales of its premium next day delivery service.
o The two day service packages usually arrive the second day, which can be speeded up with the new efficient system. We can infer that this situation will make the premium next-day delivery service irrelevant.
• The company plans to encourage sales of its next-day service by intentionally delaying delivery of its two-day packages
o The company intends to delay the delivery of its two-day packages purposefully.
o Thus, they plan to encourage the sales of the next day service.
• so that they will not be delivered the following day, even if the package arrives at its destination city in time for next-day delivery.
o According to the plan, the packages meant for two-days delivery will not be delivered the next day after it is sent, even if they reach the city of the recipient early enough.
Conclusion (by the company): Intentionally delaying delivery of the company’s two-day packages will encourage sales of its next-day delivery service.Question Stem Analysis
This question asks us to identify the assumption behind the company’s plan.
Pre-thinking
Falsification QuestionIn what scenario is it possible that intentionally delaying delivery of the company’s two-day packages will not encourage sales of its next-day delivery service?.
Given that
•Company has implemented a new distribution system that can get almost every package to its destination the day after it is sent.
•The company worries that this more efficient system will result in lower sales of its premium next-day delivery service.
Thought ProcessThe company has chosen a plan to intentionally delay its two-day delivery service in order to encourage the sales of its overnight delivery service. This plan will work if a significant number of customers are specific about their requirement of overnight delivery. The success of the plan also depends on whether the information regarding intentional delay repel customers from choosing the company’s services.
Falsification condition #1What if the customers happen to know about this plan and the company loses its goodwill among the customers? This will not encourage the sales of their premium service. In that case, the company’s conclusion breaks down.
Assumption#1The intentional delay will not lead to the company losing its goodwill amongst its customer base, affecting its ability to garner new customers for the premium service.
Falsification condition#2What if not many customers require overnight service? In that case. vast majority of the customers will continue to choose two-day service even if the plan is implemented. Here too, the conclusion cannot hold.
Assumption#2A significant number of customers require overnight delivery and will choose premium service if the plan is implemented.
Answer Choice Analysis
(A) deliberate delay of packages will not affect the company's image in a way that significantly reduces its ability to attract and retain customers
CORRECTThis statement is in line with our assumption 1, and hence forms the correct answer choice.
(B) most people do not have a preference for either two-day or next-day delivery
INCORRECTThis option negates our pre-thinking assumption 2. We need to assume there is a customer base who will pay more for next day delivery. Hence this cannot be the correct answer.
(C) if the plan is not implemented, the company would lose more money in lost sales of overnight deliveries than it would save with its new efficient distribution system
INCORRECTWe have no reason to assume that the plan chosen by the company is the best plan, or the only plan, possible. Such an assumption does not affect the chosen plan to deliver the required result anyway. Hence this is a wrong choice.
D) the overnight service is too expensive to be attractive to most customers currently
INCORRECTSuch an assumption is not required for the conclusion to hold. What more than 50% of the current customers feel regarding the price of the overnight service is not a decisive factor for the company’s conclusion to hold.
(E) competing companies' delivery services rarely deliver packages to their destination earlier than their promised time
INCORRECT.This statement is completely out of the scope of the passage as what competing companies do does not affect the plan followed by the company to promote its premium service. Thus, this is an incorrect choice.