Algorithmic Management

Question

1 
Control by machines is fast becoming our reality. Algorithms – sets of instructions to solve a problem or complete a task – now drive everything from browser search results to better medical care. In the workplace, self-learning algorithmic computer systems are being introduced by companies to assist in areas such as hiring, setting tasks, measuring productivity, evaluating performance and even terminating employment. Giving self‐learning algorithms the responsibility to make and execute decisions affecting workers is called “algorithmic management”. It carries a host of risks in depersonalising management systems and entrenching pre-existing biases. At an even deeper level, perhaps, algorithmic management entrenches a power imbalance between management and worker. Algorithms are closely guarded secrets. Their decision-making processes are hidden. It’s a black-box: perhaps you have some understanding of the data that went in, and you see the result that comes out, but you have no idea of what goes on in between.

Which of the following best states the central idea of the passage?

A)  With algorithms penetrating almost every field from browser search to management decisions, companies have obscured the decision making process leading to a rift between the management and worker. 
 B)  ‘Algorithmic management’ used by companies dehumanises management systems and carries a host of risks; it may also lead to a power imbalance between management and worker due to the opacity of the algorithm’s working. 
 C)  ‘Algorithmic management’, widely used to make management decisions, impact the workers leading to a power imbalance between management and worker due to the opacity of the algorithm’s working. 
 D)  Algorithms which drive everything from browser search to medical care when used by companies to manage the workforce, depersonalises systems and the opacity of their working may create a power imbalance between the management and the worker.

bb · Answer

Thank you for posting. Is this a GRE or a CAT question? I see it only has 4 answer choices.

The correct answer "D" has a grammatical error in it. It should say "impacts" instead of "impact"
I did not like this answer choice

Elite097 · Answer

Option D emphasizes that algorithms, when used for managing the workforce, can depersonalize systems and create a power imbalance due to the opacity of their workings. This aligns well with the passage’s focus on how algorithms are used in management and the risks associated with their lack of transparency.

While Option B mentions biases explicitly, Option D still captures the key elements of the passage, such as:

The use of algorithms in workforce management.
The depersonalization of systems.
The opacity and resulting power imbalance.
So, yes, Option D is a reasonable answer, particularly for emphasizing the key points of the passage in a concise manner.

bb  no reason to reject C. doesn't seem like a good question

bb · Answer

I agree. This seemed like a questionable question

Algorithmic Management

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