Most research on the subject has assumed that users of new

Question

﻿Most research on the subject has assumed that users of new technologies learn about and modify new technologies gradually. This assumption underlies the concept of  the learning curve , a familiar model which presumes that learners gain knowledge in a continuous and highly regular progression over time.

However, when a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company, the process of learning about and modifying that technology may not, in fact, be continuous. In general, the introduction of new technology into ongoing operations triggers an initial burst of learning or adaptive activity as users explore the technology and attempt to resolve unexpected problems. Such intense activity is often short-lived, however, with users' effort and attention declining dramatically after the first few months. This rapid decline tends to occur even when serious problems remain unresolved, a trend which suggests that the dramatic falloff in learning or adaptive activity shortly after new technology is introduced does not reflect users' having mastered the new technology. The period of intense activity by users is typically followed by one in which users return their attention to their customary production tasks, though using the new technology to accomplish those tasks. Later on, particularly when challenges related to the new technology arise, users often turn their attention back to the new technology, initiating additional spurts of learning or adaptive activity. In many cases, this pattern continues over time, with brief periods of learning or adaptation followed by longer periods of relatively routine use.

Understanding that the pattern of user learning and adaptation is discontinuous can yield important benefits. Managers who anticipate and plan for intense user activity when a new technology is first introduced are better able to exploit the surge of energy and user motivation that usually occurs at the start of a project when improvements are easiest to implement, and major problems are most obvious. Moreover, by attempting to confine major modifications to start-up periods, such managers can better realize the benefits of periods of routine usage of the technology, during which productivity typically begins to increase and the effectiveness of previous modifications can be assessed.   1 
﻿ 1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. explaining a phenomenon and its significance for managers
B. summarizing traditional assumptions about a phenomenon
C. pointing out ways in which managers have taken advantage of a phenomenon 
D. arguing against introducing more than one new technology at a time
E. discussing the benefits and drawbacks of introducing new technology

2 
﻿ 2. The author of the passage most likely mentions "the learning curve" in the highlighted text for which of the following reasons?

A. To introduce a concept that is then analyzed in greater detail
B. To explain an assumption that underlies a subsequent recommendation
C. To identify a model to which an alternative is then proposed
D. To illustrate the wide variety of models that describe the way in which people gain knowledge
E. To cite a now-outdated theory about the way in which people learn

3 
 ﻿3. According to information contained in the passage, the author would be most likely to describe the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology as

A. dictated by the particular nature of the production tasks to be accomplished with the new technology
B. unpredictable due to differences in workers' familiarity with other technologies
C. inefficient because of inadequate planning by managers
D. slow initially but accelerating as employees gain familiarity with the new technology
E. occurring at intervals rather than continuously

4 
 4. According to information contained in the passage, the author would be most likely to make which of the following recommendations to managers who are introducing a new technology into the workplace?

A. Emphasize the desirability of maintaining certain productivity levels during all phases of the process.
B. Exploit the new technology by anticipating and planning for the continuous learning curve that characterizes this process.
C. Ensure that needed improvements to the new technology are implemented during the initial period of intense user learning and adaptive activity.
D. Work jointly with users to determine the amount of learning and adaptive activity that is required for users to master a new technology.
E. Attempt to minimize the dramatic falloff in learning and adaptive activity that often occurs shortly after a new technology is introduced.

MartyMurray · Accepted Answer

Explanation for Question 2

﻿ 2. The author of the passage most likely mentions "the learning curve" in the highlighted text for which of the following reasons?

A. To introduce a concept that is then analyzed in greater detail

After "the learning curve" is mentioned, it is not "analyzed in greater detail" in the passage." Rather, a different phenomenon in which learning occurs in bursts is discussed.

Eliminate.

B. To explain an assumption that underlies a subsequent recommendation

The author does toward the end of the passage make some statements that could be considered recommendations. However, the concept of a learning curve is not what "underlies" those recommendations. Rather, information about a different kind of learning that occurs in bursts underlies them.

Eliminate.

C. To identify a model to which an alternative is then proposed

This choice fairly accurately describes why the author mentions "the learning curve."

The author mentions the learning curve as "a familiar model" that fits the common assumption "that users of new technologies learn about and modify new technologies gradually."

Then the author discusses an "alternative" "process of learning about and modifying" new technologies, one that involves learning occurring in bursts rather than as it occurs in the learning curve model.

So, we see that this choice matches what goes on in the passage pretty well since the author does discuss the learning curve model to set the stage for discussing an alternative.

That said, this choice isn't ideal since the author doesn't really propose anything; it would work better if it used "presented" rather than "proposed" since the author presents facts about how the process of learning about and modifying a new technology occurs "in general" rather than proposes, for instance, a possible alternative to the learning curve model.

At the same time, this choice does seem to capture the purpose of mentioning the learning curve, and the other choices we've seen so far have clear failure points. So, this choice is likely the correct answer.

Keep.

D. To illustrate the wide variety of models that describe the way in which people gain knowledge

The passage does not mention the learning curve model to illustrate "the wide variety of models." It's just one model that the author mentions before discussing one other model, not a "wide variety of models."

Eliminate.

E. To cite a now-outdated theory about the way in which people learn

Notice that the author does not indicate that the learning curve model is "outdated." Rather, the point made by the author is that the learning curve model may not apply in situations in which "a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company."

Eliminate.

Having gone through all the choices, we see that (C), though not completely accurate, captures the purpose of mentioning "the learning curve" much better than any of the others. So, we can safely choose it.

The correct answer is (C).

MartyMurray · Answer

Explanation for Question 1

﻿ 1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. explaining a phenomenon and its significance for managers

This choice makes sense. The passage first discusses how and why learning occurs after the introduction of a new technology and then discusses how "understanding that the pattern of user learning and adaptation is discontinuous can yield important benefits" for managers.

Keep.

B. summarizing traditional assumptions about a phenomenon

The passage does begin by discussing traditional assumptions about learning curves, but since the passage does much more than that, what this choice says is too narrow to capture the primary purpose of the passage as a whole.

C. pointing out ways in which managers have taken advantage of a phenomenon

The key way this choice fails is that it mentions "ways in which ways in which managers HAVE TAKEN advantage of a phenomenon" in the past. The passage does discuss how managers CAN proceed in light of information about learning curves but does not say that managers have done so.

Also, the passage does not really say how manages can "take advantage" of a phenomenon. It more discusses how they can best act given how a phenomenon works.

Eliminate.
 
 D. arguing against introducing more than one new technology at a time

The passage says nothing about "introducing more than one technology at a time."

Some of what the passage says could be considered reasons not to introduce more than one technology at a time, but arguing against doing so is not the purpose of the passage.

Eliminate.

E. discussing the benefits and drawbacks of introducing new technology

The passage only touches on "benefits" of using a new technology in one sentence of the last paragraph and never mentions "drawbacks."

Eliminate.

The correct answer is (A).

MartyMurray · Answer

Explanation for Question 3

﻿3. According to information contained in the passage, the author would be most likely to describe the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology as

A. dictated by the particular nature of the production tasks to be accomplished with the new technology

The author does not mention anything about how "the particular nature of the production tasks to be accomplished with the new technology" dictates how the learning process occurs. Rather, the author discusses what occurs "in general" when a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company.

Eliminate.

B. unpredictable due to differences in workers' familiarity with other technologies

The author never characterizes the learning process as "unpredictable." Rather, the author indicates that there is a pattern that occurs "in general" whenever a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company.

Eliminate.

C. inefficient because of inadequate planning by managers

This choice is tricky because the author does indicate that planning by managers can affect how well introduction of new technology can go.

Notice, however, that the author never says that, in general, the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology is "inefficient" because of what managers do.

Eliminate.

D. slow initially but accelerating as employees gain familiarity with the new technology

This choice says basically the opposite what the passage says. The passage says that the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology involves "an initial burst of learning or adaptive activity" that is "often short-lived ... with users' effort and attention declining dramatically after the first few months."

In other words, the passage says that the process is fast initially and then slows.

Eliminate.

E. occurring at intervals rather than continuously

This choice fits what the passage says perfectly.

The author says the following:

In general, the introduction of new technology into ongoing operations triggers an initial burst of learning or adaptive activity .... Such intense activity is often short-lived, however, with users' effort and attention declining dramatically after the first few months. ... The period of intense activity by users is typically followed by one in which users return their attention to their customary production tasks .... Later on ... users often turn their attention back to the new technology, initiating additional spurts of learning or adaptive activity. In many cases, this pattern continues over time, with brief periods of learning or adaptation followed by longer periods of relatively routine use.

We see that the author says that "in general" the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology occurs in "an initial burst" followed by "additional spurts" and "brief periods of learning or adaptation followed by longer periods of relatively routine use," i.e., "at intervals rather than continuously."

The correct answer is (E)

MartyMurray · Answer

Explanation for Question 4

4. According to information contained in the passage, the author would be most likely to make which of the following recommendations to managers who are introducing a new technology into the workplace?

A. Emphasize the desirability of maintaining certain productivity levels during all phases of the process.

The passage never discusses anything having to do with "maintaining" productivity levels. The only mention of "productivity levels," "productivity typically begins to increase," appears toward the end of the passage, and it involves the effects of adoption of a new technology on productivity levels, not people doing anything to maintain productivity levels during the process of introducing a new technology.

Eliminate.

B. Exploit the new technology by anticipating and planning for the continuous learning curve that characterizes this process.

This choice conflicts with what the passage says in that the passage describes the learning involved with introduction of a new technology as occurring in "bursts" rather than "continuous."

Eliminate.

C. Ensure that needed improvements to the new technology are implemented during the initial period of intense user learning and adaptive activity.

This choice is supported the passage.

In the third paragraph, we see the following:

Managers who anticipate and plan for intense user activity when a new technology is first introduced are better able to exploit the surge of energy and user motivation that usually occurs at the start of a project when improvements are easiest to implement, and major problems are most obvious. Moreover, by attempting to confine major modifications to start-up periods, such managers can better realize the benefits of periods of routine usage of the technology, during which productivity typically begins to increase and the effectiveness of previous modifications can be assessed.

It follows that if "improvements are easiest to implement" "at the start of a project" and that if "by attempting to confine major modifications to start-up periods, such managers can better realize the benefits of periods of routine usage of the technology," then the author would recommend that managers "ensure that needed improvements to the new technology are implemented during the initial period of intense user learning and adaptive activity."

Keep

D. Work jointly with users to determine the amount of learning and adaptive activity that is required for users to master a new technology.

The passage says nothing about managers working "jointly with users" or determining "the amount of learning and adaptive activity that is required." Rather, the passage sticks to discussing the overall pattern of how learning occurs and how best to proceed in light of the existence of that pattern.

Eliminate.

E. Attempt to minimize the dramatic falloff in learning and adaptive activity that often occurs shortly after a new technology is introduced.

Everything discussed in the passage assumes that "the dramatic falloff in learning and adaptive activity that often occurs shortly after a new technology is introduced" will occur, and all recommendations made involve actions that take that falloff into account rather than minimize it.

Eliminate.

The correct answer is (C).

vipkhare · Answer

MartyMurray

for the 2nd question the right answer is (c) but if we take a closer look at this answer choice it says "........to which an alternative is proposed".

But i don't think that the author is proposing any thing in the 2nd paragraph.
He is just stating facts or data points about what normally happens "when a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company".

Can you throw some light why this is the correct choice ?

MartyMurray · Answer

That's interesting, and I've edited the explanation for (C) and the end of the explanation for question 2 to reflect what you said and answer your question.

See what you think.

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