The majority of successful senior managers do not closely

Question

The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision

This only means that majority of successful manager use intuition. This doesn't suggest that intuition users are more successful than other managers in other set. Look at the wording carefully.
(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.

Lets say Intuition Category A =6 manager with success measured in % [60,65,77,66,88,90]
Other Category B =4 manager with success measured in % [95,95,95,95]

Hope this answered ur doubt.

Generations of  writers on management  have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.

Isenberg’s recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers’ intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First, they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to synthesize isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture, often in an  “Aha!” experience . Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally leery of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to engender a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns. One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that “thinking” is inseparable from acting. Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is inextricably tied to action in thinking/acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.

Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue. One implication of  thinking/acting cycles  is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution.   1 
 1. The passage provides support for which of the following statements?

(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
(B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
(C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
(D) Logical analysis of a problem increases the number of possible solutions.
(E) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.

2 
 2. According to the passage, the classical model of decision analysis includes all of the following EXCEPT

(A) evaluation of a problem
(B) creation of possible solutions to a problem
(C) establishment of clear goals to be reached by the decision
(D) action undertaken in order to discover more information about a problem
(E) comparison of the probable effects of different solutions to a problem

3 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following would most probably be one major difference in behavior between Manager X, who uses intuition to reach decisions, and Manager Y, who uses only formal decision analysis?

(A) Manager X analyzes first and then acts; Manager Y does not.
(B) Manager X checks possible solutions to a problem by systematic analysis; Manager Y does not.
(C) Manager X takes action in order to arrive at the solution to a problem; Manager Y does not.
(D) Manager Y draws on years of hands-on experience in creating a solution to a problem; Manager X does not.
(E) Manger Y depends on day-to-day tactical maneuvering; manager X does not.

4 
 According to the passage, senior managers use intuition in all of the following ways EXCEPT to

(A) speed up of the creation of a solution to a problem
(B) identify a problem
(C) bring together disparate facts
(D) stipulate clear goals
(E) evaluate possible solutions to a problem

5 
 The passage suggests which of the following about the  “writers on management”  mentioned in line 12?

(A) They have criticized managers for not following the classical rational model of decision analysis.
(B) They have not based their analyses on a sufficiently large sample of actual managers.
(C) They have relied in drawing their conclusions on what managers say rather than on what managers do.
(D) They have misunderstood how managers use intuition in making business decisions.
(E) They have not acknowledged the role of intuition in managerial practice.

6 
 Which of the following best exemplifies  “an ‘Aha!’ experience”  (line 28) as it is presented in the passage?

(A) A manager risks taking an action whose outcome is unpredictable to discover whether the action changes the problem at hand.
(B) A manager performs well-learned and familiar behavior patterns in creative and uncharacteristic ways to solve a problem.
(C) A manager suddenly connects seemingly unrelated facts and experiences to create a pattern relevant to the problem at hand.
(D) A manager rapidly identifies the methodology used to compile data yielded by systematic analysis.
(E) A manager swiftly decides which of several sets of tactics to implement in order to deal with the contingencies suggested by a problem.

7 
 It can be inferred from the passage that  “thinking/acting cycles”  (line 45) in managerial practice would be likely to result in which of the following?

I. A manager analyzes a network of problems and then acts on the basis of that analysis.
II. A manager gathers data by acting and observing the effects of action.
III. A manager takes action without being able to articulate reasons for that particular action.

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

8 
 Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of the passage?

(A) An assertion is made and a specific supporting example is given.
(B) A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.
(C) The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.
(D) Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.
(E) A widely accepted definition is presented and qualified.

GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

Sure thing,  teaserbae . First let's review what we're being asked and what we've read in the passage:

The author is pretty explicit here: " such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. " As we see in the rest of the passage, the author believes that intuition is made up of several distinct skills. So the passage suggests that writers who see intuition as the "opposite of rationality" or "an excuse for capriciousness" are wrong because they don't grasp how intuition is used by managers in day-to-day practice.

This exactly matches what the author is saying. The key isn't just the word "misunderstood" but the phrase " have misunderstood how managers use intuition ." According to the passage, these writers don't get how managers are practicing intuition. Instead, they think the managers are simply being irrational or capricious. So we keep (D).

As with analyzing choice (D), the key to eliminating (E) isn't just the word "acknowledge." It's the phrase " have not acknowledged the role of intuition ." Is it the author saying that these writers don't acknowledge what role intuition plays in the work of managers? Absolutely not. The highlighted portions tells us very plainly that "Generations of writers on management  have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition ." They are acknowledge the heavy role that intuition plays in managerial practice. What's missing from these writers' viewpoint is  how  intuition is used to fulfill this role.

This is why we eliminate (E) and keep (D). I hope this helps!

anordinaryguy · Answer

1. The passage provides support for which of the following statements?

(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
(B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
(C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
(D) Logical analysis of a problem increases the number of possible solutions.
(E) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.

(OA) : E

Why is the answer E ...............I can't see that??
 Detail Question : A line ("Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly") in second para gives the support for the last option. Rest all don't find any support in the passage

2. According to the passage, the classical model of decision analysis includes all of the following EXCEPT
(A) evaluation of a problem
(B) creation of possible solutions to a problem
(C) establishment of clear goals to be reached by the decision
(D) action undertaken in order to discover more information about a problem
(E) comparison of the probable effects of different solutions to a problem

OA: D
 Detail Question : Need to re-read first few lines of the first para. There author has mentioned few items. We need to identify one option that is not specified in one of those option.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following would most probably be one major difference in behavior between Manager X, who uses intuition to reach decisions, and Manager Y, who uses only formal decision analysis?
(A) Manager X analyzes first and then acts; Manager Y does not.
(B) Manager X checks possible solutions to a problem by systematic analysis; Manager Y does not.
(C) Manager X takes action in order to arrive at the solution to a problem; Manager Y does not.
(D) Manager Y draws on years of hands-on experience in creating a solution to a problem; Manager X does not.
(E) Manger Y depends on day-to-day tactical maneuvering; manager X does not.

OA: C 
 Detail Question : First para gives half of the information (The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first ......, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision.) to answer this question. for other half, we required to look at last few lines of second para (One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that “thinking” is inseparable from acting. Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later.)

Can someone please explain me the answers to these questions?? What should be the right approach to answer these types of questions? 
 Frankly, even I don't think there is any specific approach to attack these question types, because all the questions in this passage need you to read the passage and understand it. General process of skimming the passage may not work in these type of scenarios.

I having trouble with answering "EXCEPT" type and Inference type questions. I take too long and confused in answer choices. Please help!!!
 For EXCEPT question, first it is very important to ensure that you understand the question and than able to negate it in your mind. If you have done so, you can treat these questions like any other question (Inference, main idea, etc..) and approach will vary depending on the question type.

JarvisR · Answer

1. The passage provides support for which of the following statements?
(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
(B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
(C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
(D) Logical analysis of a problem increases the number of possible solutions.
 (E) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.
The whole argument is about praising the approach of intuition.Second para mentions that intuition is not a random but something based on past experience and helps managers to form plausible solutions quickly.Also none of the rest options can be inferred from para.

2. According to the passage, the classical model of decision analysis includes all of the following EXCEPT
(A) evaluation of a problem
(B) creation of possible solutions to a problem
(C) establishment of clear goals to be reached by the decision
 (D) action undertaken in order to discover more information about a problem
senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue
 (E) comparison of the probable effects of different solutions to a problem

3. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following would most probably be one major difference in behavior between Manager X, who uses intuition to reach decisions, and Manager Y, who uses only formal decision analysis?
(A) Manager X analyzes first and then acts; Manager Y does not.
(B) Manager X checks possible solutions to a problem by systematic analysis; Manager Y does not.
 (C) Manager X takes action in order to arrive at the solution to a problem; Manager Y does not.
senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue
 (D) Manager Y draws on years of hands-on experience in creating a solution to a problem; Manager X does not.

earnit · Answer

1. The passage provides support for which of the following statements?

(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
(B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
(C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
(D) Logical analysis of a problem increases the number of possible solutions.
(E) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.

(OA) : E

I am still not able to process why EXACTLY Option A is incorrect.
The passage does not clearly support option A by stating in the very first line:  The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model 
So for ex: Total Successful managers - 10, then majority of Sr. Managers using intuition (not classical model) - 6 or more, Sr. Managers using Classical Model - 4 or less.

Hence, So if Option A states that Most of the Managers successful are the ones using Intuition and not classical model then this is supported by passage, Right?

So is option A wrong only because it is stressing and comparing the "DEGREE" of success of managers using either of the methods? As that is not mentioned in the passage.

Please Help here! 
Thank you.

JarvisR · Answer

The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision

This only means that majority of successful manager use intuition. This doesn't suggest that intuition users are more successful than other managers in other set. Look at the wording carefully.
(A)  Managers  who rely on intuition  are more successful  than those who rely on formal decision analysis.

Lets say Intuition Category A =6 manager with success measured in %  
Other Category B =4 manager with success measured in %

Hope this answered ur doubt.

leanhdung · Answer

Hi experts!

Please explain the last question, many thanks!

And I wonder why i did not find this question in OG. Is it an self-made question by someone in our forum?

Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of the passage?

(A) An assertion is made and a specific supporting example is given.
(B) A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.
(C) The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.
(D) Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.
(E) A widely accepted definition is presented and qualified.

GMATNinjaTwo · Answer

Thanks  leanhdung  for your comment. Yes, in the OG 12th edition, this passage only contains 6 questions, but the post includes an additional 7th and 8th question from an unknown source. I wouldn't worry about these unless  teal  can verify the source.

Thanks!

arvind910619 · Answer

Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of the passage?

(A) An assertion is made and a specific supporting example is given.
(B) A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.
(C) The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.
(D) Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.
(E) A widely accepted definition is presented and qualified.

To all those who got the last question wrong.
Assertion meaning is to make a claim , declaration. But what we see from the first para is just fact .These are not claims rather these statement are discussing two models of thinking and dismissing the other .
C is just out of the picture as we do not have any results to show in fist para
D Two opposing view points are given but they are not evaluated only the second is discussed more deeply.
E No definition is introduced .

teaserbae · Answer

workout   GMATNinjaTwo   GMATNinja   mikemcgarry   Gnpth   gmatexam439

Hi experts can you please explain in Q5
Why acknowledge is wrong over misunderstood ?
I have difficulties in such questions

Please help

ShukhratJon · Answer

Hi Mallya12,

Please conider this part of the passage:  "Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later."

7th question asks us what would the result of  thinking/acting cycle  be. From the above part of the passage we can infer that managers praticing thinking/acting cycle often take action before they can explain why this action is right. The same thing is said in III (A manager takes action without being able to articulate reasons for that particular action).

I hope my responce was clear.

rahul12988 · Answer

Hi  GMATNinja

I am still not clear on 1st question. 
(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
I don't think that elimination should be based on "manager vs senior manager". Direct comparison is not mentioned in passage but still initially author mentioned that "The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model........rather these executives relied on intuition". Can't we understand that it's an implied comparison ?

dcummins · Answer

Official answer for Question 2
  A Evaluating a problem is identified as assessing the problem. 
B Creating solutions is identified as formulating options. 
C Establishing goals is identified as clarifying goals. 
D Correct. Acting in order to learn more about the problem is not identified in the passage as part of the rational classical model. It does appear as part of the acting/ thinking cycle in the last paragraph. 
E Comparing probable effects is identified as estimating likelihoods of success.

I'm a bit concerned about Question 7 as we are told that "Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and  explain later " and in fact we aren't given any other reason to doubt that the managers CANNOT explain their actions, so I don't understand how III is correct also.

After a bit of digging, I can't seem to seem to see this question in any official guide.  SajjadAhmad  or  GMATNinjaTwo

*EDIT: i see the comments above. So the question isn't official.

The statement I quoted from the passage says that managers act first before they explain - so if you stop reading here, III in Q7 is true, but if you keep reading it says "they frequently act first and explain later".

So I can't stand to reason why III is correct.

Diya52 · Answer

Can someone please explain how to arrive at the answer to question 1? How can we infer that "Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently."?

GMATNinja · Answer

Question #1

(A) tells us that managers who rely on intuition are "more successful" than managers who rely on formal decision analysis. This compares the  degree  of success between the two groups. Let's see how that comparison holds up in light of the exact wording of the relevant piece of the passage:
 
This tells us that the  number  of successful senior managers who use intuition is larger than the  number  of successful senior managers who use formal decision making processes.

Unfortunately, it tells us nothing about the  degree  of success of these managers. Perhaps there are fewer successful managers using formal processes, but these managers are wildly successful, while their intuitive counterparts are only marginally successful.

Because the passage doesn't compare exactly  how  successful intuitive and unintuitive managers are, we cannot infer that intuitive managers are the "more successful" group. (A) is out.

Practical experience is discussed in the second way in which senior managers use intuition:
 
Here, we see that intuition allows managers to use their experience to take action quickly. This aligns well with (E), which is the correct answer to question #1.

I hope that helps!

Tracy95 · Answer

I have a concern over Q7-D. Why III is an inference?  
  It can be inferred from the passage that “thinking/acting cycles” (line 45) in managerial practice would be likely to result in which of the following?

I. A manager analyzes a network of problems and then acts on the basis of that analysis.
II. A manager gathers data by acting and observing the effects of action.
III. A manager takes action without being able to articulate reasons for that particular action.

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

We have "Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate a course of action  simply to learn more about an issue. ". I think the statement can be considered a reason why they act - "to learn more abt an issue". So we can't say (III) "A manager takes action without being able to articulate reasons for that particular action.". A manager can articulate the reason, which is "to learn more abt an issue".

Could anyone shed some light on this? 
I am also looking forward to the OA of this question!  teal

GMATNinja · Answer

Although the  writer of this passage  is able to articulate this reason (to learn more about an issue), the managers themselves might not be able to articulate that reason.

More importantly, we can trace the third inference back to paragraph three, where another implication of thinking/acting cycles is described:

Managers don't analyze a problem first and then act. Instead, they engage in thinking/acting cycles, in which action and analysis are intertwined -- "thinking" is inseparable from acting. 
 Managers who engage in such thinking/acting cycles will "frequently act first and explain later." Why? Because they "often 'know' what is right  before  they can analyze and explain it." 
 So it is reasonable to  infer  that intuitive managers who engage in thinking/action cycles often take action without being able to articulate reasons for that particular action.

I hope that helps!

Bhawanshu · Answer

Can anyone explain why not option A in question 5? and why not option E in Q4? Thanks in advance

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 4  
Here's choice (E):

The third paragraph tells us that some managers will rely on intuition to evaluate solutions that have been reached through formal decision analysis:

"Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally leery of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action."

We were asked which answer choice is NOT a way that senior managers use intuition, so (E) can be eliminated.

Question 5 
Here's choice (A):

(A) can be eliminated because the author never indicates that these generations of writers on management  have criticized managers  — let alone criticized managers for not following the classical rational model.

You can  check out my previous explanation of question 5  if you're still not sure how to get to the correct answer. But without more information on why you think (A) could be correct, I can't say much more about why it's not. The evidence simply isn't there.

I hope this helps!

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

QUESTION 8:

Q8 asks us to describe the organization of the first paragraph. Upon reading, we can summarize the gist of the first paragraphs as follows:

Most successful managers do not follow the traditional "rational model" of decision making, but rely on intuition to manage a network of interconnected problems.

Now, let us examine the answer options:

(A) An assertion is made and a specific supporting example is given.  While an assertion is made, no supporting examples are given. Eliminate.

(B) A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.  This appears promising. While I don't like the usage of the word "dismissed" for the way the rational model is treated in the first paragraph, it is definitely set aside for a different approach. We can hold on to this option at this stage.

(C) The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.  The first paragraph does not talk about any research. Eliminate.

(D) Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.  We can consider the first paragraph to be presenting two opposing points of view. However, there is no "evaluation" of either view in the first paragraph. Eliminate.

(E) A widely accepted definition is presented and qualified.  If we consider the first half of the first paragraph as presenting a "definition" of the rational model, the second half of the first paragraph does not "qualify" this definition in any way but deals with a completely different model altogether. Eliminate.

As we can see, the only option that comes close to being fully correct is option (B), and hence is the correct answer.

Hope this helps.

The majority of successful senior managers do not closely

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The majority of successful senior managers do not closely

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