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CM12
Joined: 11 May 2021
Last visit: 07 Apr 2024
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 124
Location: Canada
Schools: Rotman '26 (A$)
GMAT 1: 700 Q44 V42 (Online)
06 May 2022, 14:57
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Hi - an evaluation of this AWA submission would be greatly appreciated 
Prompt:
The following appeared as part of the business plan of an investment and financial consulting firm.
“Studies suggest that an average coffee drinker’s consumption of coffee increases with age, from age 10 through age 60. Even after age 60, coffee consumption remains high. The average cola drinker’s consumption of cola, however, declines with increasing age. Both of these trends have remained stable for the past 40 years. Given that the number of older adults will significantly increase as the population ages over the next 20 years, it follows that the demand for coffee will increase and the demand for cola will decrease during this period. We should, therefore, consider transferring our investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee.”
Response
The argument provided by the investment and financial consulting firm related to transferring investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee is flawed and requires further evidence. The two primary issues with the argument related to missing contextual information with the data, as well as the absence of critical information related to the brands and trends discussed. These concerns are detailed below, along with recommendations for additional information that should be included in the business plan before any final decisions are made. In the mean time, no commitment should be made.
First, while the long-term trends seem notable and relevant, there is no confirmation around locality. These trends could be focusing on the "average coffee drinker," but the firm should at least confirm that the trends are applicable to the specific location in which this business is operating. This piece of information is critical for this argument.
Second, no statistics are provided related to the two brands in which the company is invested in. Do consumers feelings towards them match the consumption trends? One potential concern is if Cola Loca is one of the most popular brands of soda and consumption is increasing, while perhaps Early Bird Coffee has a bad reputation amongst coffee drinkers. This would have the opposite of the desired effect for the business. Regardless of broad trends, more information is needed on these two specific brands and why this decision is warranted.
Another concern pertains to the 40-year trend and what information it actually relays. The trend is focused on what the "average" drinker or coffee and cola consumes as they age, and the directions of these consumption relationships. However, no indication is provided if the number of coffee and cola drinkers are increasing, decreasing, or stagnating. This is key information for the business plan as if the number of coffee drinkers is increasing and the number of cola drinkers is decreasing, this plan would be more justified. The opposite could also be true. Even if cola consumption is not decreasing, but coffee consumption is, it provides more strength to the argument. After all, this is a significant financial decision; more evidence is required.
As stated, more proof is required that the switch from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee is a smart decision. There are a number of steps that could be taken to assist with this objective. The first option would be to determine if any market research reports have been prepared that assess any patterns in the number of coffee and cola drinkers. If not, the business should hire a research firm to conduct market research and try to get an estimate on these numbers. Further, conducting research (i.e., a survey) to understand what consumers' brand perceptions are for Cola Loca and Early Bird Coffee would provide critical information. This would confirm whether it is wise to stop investing in Cola Loca, and start investing in Early Bird. Any of these steps would provide more useful information.
In conclusion, the decision being proposed to switch investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee is a significant one that cannot be taken lightly. Sufficient evidence is required before committing, and unfortunately, it was not provided in the argument above. While the trend noted is a good indication that this switch in investments may be wise, more data related to cola and coffee drinkers would help. Further, information about the two brands being discussed would supplement the decision. Finally, proposed steps such as relevant market research would fill in some gaps in the investment firm's logic. Until more evidence is provided to justify this investment decision, no further action should be taken.
Prompt:
The following appeared as part of the business plan of an investment and financial consulting firm.
“Studies suggest that an average coffee drinker’s consumption of coffee increases with age, from age 10 through age 60. Even after age 60, coffee consumption remains high. The average cola drinker’s consumption of cola, however, declines with increasing age. Both of these trends have remained stable for the past 40 years. Given that the number of older adults will significantly increase as the population ages over the next 20 years, it follows that the demand for coffee will increase and the demand for cola will decrease during this period. We should, therefore, consider transferring our investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee.”
Response
The argument provided by the investment and financial consulting firm related to transferring investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee is flawed and requires further evidence. The two primary issues with the argument related to missing contextual information with the data, as well as the absence of critical information related to the brands and trends discussed. These concerns are detailed below, along with recommendations for additional information that should be included in the business plan before any final decisions are made. In the mean time, no commitment should be made.
First, while the long-term trends seem notable and relevant, there is no confirmation around locality. These trends could be focusing on the "average coffee drinker," but the firm should at least confirm that the trends are applicable to the specific location in which this business is operating. This piece of information is critical for this argument.
Second, no statistics are provided related to the two brands in which the company is invested in. Do consumers feelings towards them match the consumption trends? One potential concern is if Cola Loca is one of the most popular brands of soda and consumption is increasing, while perhaps Early Bird Coffee has a bad reputation amongst coffee drinkers. This would have the opposite of the desired effect for the business. Regardless of broad trends, more information is needed on these two specific brands and why this decision is warranted.
Another concern pertains to the 40-year trend and what information it actually relays. The trend is focused on what the "average" drinker or coffee and cola consumes as they age, and the directions of these consumption relationships. However, no indication is provided if the number of coffee and cola drinkers are increasing, decreasing, or stagnating. This is key information for the business plan as if the number of coffee drinkers is increasing and the number of cola drinkers is decreasing, this plan would be more justified. The opposite could also be true. Even if cola consumption is not decreasing, but coffee consumption is, it provides more strength to the argument. After all, this is a significant financial decision; more evidence is required.
As stated, more proof is required that the switch from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee is a smart decision. There are a number of steps that could be taken to assist with this objective. The first option would be to determine if any market research reports have been prepared that assess any patterns in the number of coffee and cola drinkers. If not, the business should hire a research firm to conduct market research and try to get an estimate on these numbers. Further, conducting research (i.e., a survey) to understand what consumers' brand perceptions are for Cola Loca and Early Bird Coffee would provide critical information. This would confirm whether it is wise to stop investing in Cola Loca, and start investing in Early Bird. Any of these steps would provide more useful information.
In conclusion, the decision being proposed to switch investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee is a significant one that cannot be taken lightly. Sufficient evidence is required before committing, and unfortunately, it was not provided in the argument above. While the trend noted is a good indication that this switch in investments may be wise, more data related to cola and coffee drinkers would help. Further, information about the two brands being discussed would supplement the decision. Finally, proposed steps such as relevant market research would fill in some gaps in the investment firm's logic. Until more evidence is provided to justify this investment decision, no further action should be taken.
08 May 2022, 07:22
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AWA Score: 6 out of 6
Coherence and connectivity: 5/5
This rating corresponds to the flow of ideas and expressions from one paragraph to another. The effective use of connectives and coherence of assertive language in arguing for/against the argument is analyzed. This is deemed as one of the most important parameters.
Paragraph structure and formation: 4/5
The structure and division of the attempt into appropriate paragraphs are evaluated. To score well on this parameter, it is important to organize the attempt into paragraphs. Preferable to follow the convention of leaving a line blank at the end of each paragraph, to make the software aware of the structure of the essay.
Vocabulary and word expression: 4/5
This parameter rates the submitted essay on the range of relevant vocabulary possessed by the candidate basis the word and expression usage. There are no extra- points for bombastic word usage. Simple is the best form of suave!
Coherence and connectivity: 5/5
This rating corresponds to the flow of ideas and expressions from one paragraph to another. The effective use of connectives and coherence of assertive language in arguing for/against the argument is analyzed. This is deemed as one of the most important parameters.
Paragraph structure and formation: 4/5
The structure and division of the attempt into appropriate paragraphs are evaluated. To score well on this parameter, it is important to organize the attempt into paragraphs. Preferable to follow the convention of leaving a line blank at the end of each paragraph, to make the software aware of the structure of the essay.
Vocabulary and word expression: 4/5
This parameter rates the submitted essay on the range of relevant vocabulary possessed by the candidate basis the word and expression usage. There are no extra- points for bombastic word usage. Simple is the best form of suave!
Good Luck
CM12
06 May 2023, 23:42
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Sajjad1994, could you please rate my essay -
Thanks in advance.
Question -
“Studies suggest that an average coffee drinker’s consumption of coffee increases with age, from age 10 through age 60. Even after age 60, coffee consumption remains high. The average cola drinker’s consumption of cola, however, declines with increasing age. Both of these trends have remained stable for the past 40 years. Given that the number of older adults will significantly increase as the population ages over the next 20 years, it follows that the demand for coffee will increase and the demand for cola will decrease during this period. We should, therefore, consider transferring our investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counter examples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
My Response -
In this argument, the author has considered 2 premises to derive to a conclusion that one should consider transferring investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee. The premises are talking about past 40 years trend of cola and coffee consumers and an assumption that after 20 years the number of older adults will increase, hence demand for coffee will also increase. For a couple of reasons the argument is not very convincing.
First, the author compares 2 unrelated trends with each other - the consumption of coffee increases with age and after 60 the consumption stays high and the consumption of cola tends to decrease with age. There is a gap in this assumption - he didn't consider what is the initial base of these trends. It can be possible that the base of young cola drinkers is significantly high and the decrease rate is pretty low with age in comparison with the base of coffee users at young age is pretty small and the increase rate is moderate. If this scenario is true then it might be possible that at older age there is not much difference in numbers of coffee consumers and cola consumers.
Second, the author falsely assumed that after 20 years only the number of older adults will increase. There is a fair possibility that the number of young adults and teenagers will also increase (might be the country in consideration doesn't have strict population control policies). In that case the number of young cola users may also increase in next 20 years. Hence this assumption is not accurate.
In conclusion, this is a weak argument. To strengthen the conclusion many more facts and evidences need to be considered before making the decision of transferring investments. A thorough population trend study is important and also the number of current consumers of each of the drink at every age bucket is essential to consider.
Thanks in advance.
Question -
“Studies suggest that an average coffee drinker’s consumption of coffee increases with age, from age 10 through age 60. Even after age 60, coffee consumption remains high. The average cola drinker’s consumption of cola, however, declines with increasing age. Both of these trends have remained stable for the past 40 years. Given that the number of older adults will significantly increase as the population ages over the next 20 years, it follows that the demand for coffee will increase and the demand for cola will decrease during this period. We should, therefore, consider transferring our investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counter examples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
My Response -
In this argument, the author has considered 2 premises to derive to a conclusion that one should consider transferring investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee. The premises are talking about past 40 years trend of cola and coffee consumers and an assumption that after 20 years the number of older adults will increase, hence demand for coffee will also increase. For a couple of reasons the argument is not very convincing.
First, the author compares 2 unrelated trends with each other - the consumption of coffee increases with age and after 60 the consumption stays high and the consumption of cola tends to decrease with age. There is a gap in this assumption - he didn't consider what is the initial base of these trends. It can be possible that the base of young cola drinkers is significantly high and the decrease rate is pretty low with age in comparison with the base of coffee users at young age is pretty small and the increase rate is moderate. If this scenario is true then it might be possible that at older age there is not much difference in numbers of coffee consumers and cola consumers.
Second, the author falsely assumed that after 20 years only the number of older adults will increase. There is a fair possibility that the number of young adults and teenagers will also increase (might be the country in consideration doesn't have strict population control policies). In that case the number of young cola users may also increase in next 20 years. Hence this assumption is not accurate.
In conclusion, this is a weak argument. To strengthen the conclusion many more facts and evidences need to be considered before making the decision of transferring investments. A thorough population trend study is important and also the number of current consumers of each of the drink at every age bucket is essential to consider.
