Techniques to increase productivity in the performance of discrete

Question

Techniques to increase productivity in the performance of discrete tasks, by requiring less human labor in each step of the production process, are widely utilized. Consultants on productivity enhancement point out, however, that although these techniques achieve their specific goal, they are not without drawbacks. They often instill enough resentment in the workforce eventually to lead to a slowdown in the production process as a whole.

Which of the following can be reasonably inferred from the statements above?

A. Productivity enhancement techniques do not attain their intended purpose and should not be employed in the workplace.

B. The fact that productivity enhancement techniques are so widely employed has led to a decline in the ability of American businesses to compete abroad.

C. If productivity enhancement consultants continue to utilize these techniques, complete work stoppages will eventually result.

D. Ironically, an increase in the productivity of discrete tasks may result in a decrease in the productivity of the whole production process.

E. Production managers are dissatisfied with the efforts that productivity enhancement consultants have made to increase productivity.

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sayan640 · Answer

Only C and D are close..D is my pick. Slowdown means decrease in the productivity.
Complete stoppage will be too extreme.

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_blossom_s · Answer

Since this is an assumption question then the conclusion will not be broaden like strengthen questions so IMO it would be D.

Michelle777 · Answer

Why not A could you pls explain ?

siddhesh11 · Answer

In my opinion, Option A doesn’t work because it states that the techniques SHOULDN’T be implemented. If you read the passage carefully, it says: “although they achieve their specific goals, they’re not without drawbacks. They ‘often’ instil enough resentment in the workforce eventually to lead to a slowdown in the production process as a whole.” Often doesn’t mean all the time. Moreover, it only talks about the production process slowing down and not bringing it to a halt.

I hope this helps.

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Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

D

Here the author presents the consultants' ideas. Notice the paragraph uses words like  often  and  slowdown . The correct response should not go beyond such terminology. Consultants' conclusion: Techniques to increase productivity of discrete tasks have drawbacks, even though they accomplish their specific goals. Consultants' evidence: They often instill enough resentment to lead to a slowdown in the production process as a whole.

(A) is a too sweeping a generalization, an unwarranted inference about productivity enhancement techniques. Do these techniques never work? (B) is even further out. Nowhere does the information imply that America is less competitive abroad than before. Since no geographic location is mentioned, this data could have originated in Europe. (C) projects into the future, to an extreme result. All we're told is that sometimes these techniques lead to a slowdown in the production process. (D) uses similar language (and tone) to the original paragraph and remains in scope without bringing in additional information. It is an accurate summary of the text. (E) can almost be disqualified after the first few words. Though it picks up on the negative aspects of productivity enhancement, we can infer nothing about production managers since they are never mentioned. In fact, many production managers may be ecstatic about the efforts that did pay off.

Techniques to increase productivity in the performance of discrete

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Techniques to increase productivity in the performance of discrete

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