Sonex Corporation employees use computers in their daily work, and

Question

Sonex Corporation employees use computers in their daily work, and a small percentage of them develop vision-related problems as a result. These problems can be reversed, and recurrences prevented, by modifications to individual computer work spaces. Because implementing these modifications for all employees would be somewhat costly, Sonex's policy is to implement modifications only when an employee reports vision-related problems. However, such modifications would enhance the productivity of all of Sonex's employees.

The information given, if accurate, could best be used in support of which of the following positions?

A. It would be to Sonex's advantage to reduce the number of its employees.
B. Sonex employees would require training in how to use the modified computer workspaces.
C. Sonex's current policy might not be to its long-term advantage.
D. When Sonex's current computer work spaces were designed, it was known that the design might induce vision problems.
E. Sonex's computer work areas must be modified in order to satisfy industry standards.

gmatophobia · Accepted Answer

This is an inference-based question.

Answer choice elimination

A. It would be to Sonex's advantage to reduce the number of its employees.

The passage supports this idea. A reduction in the number of employees wouldn't address vision problems or productivity. Eliminate A.

B. Sonex employees would require training in how to use the modified computer workspaces.

While training might be necessary in some cases, there is no explicit mention in the information provided that training is required for employees to use the modified workspaces. Hence, we can eliminate B.

C. Sonex's current policy might not be to its long-term advantage.

This information can be inferred.   This position is supported because the information suggests that implementing modifications to computer workspaces not only addresses vision-related issues but also enhances the productivity of all employees. Therefore, by waiting for employees to report problems before implementing modifications, Sonex may be missing out on employee productivity. We can keep this option.

D. When Sonex's current computer work spaces were designed, it was known that the design might induce vision problems.

The passage doesn't provide information on whether the design of Sonex's current computer workspaces was knowingly problematic in terms of inducing vision problems. The passage suggests that modifications can prevent and reverse these problems, indicating that the issues may not have been anticipated during the design phase. Eliminate D.

E. Sonex's computer work areas must be modified in order to satisfy industry standards.

The information provided in the passage doesn't mention industry standards or their requirements. Eliminate E.

Option C

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Sonex Corporation employees use computers in their daily work, and a small percentage of them develop vision-related problems as a result. These problems can be reversed, and recurrences prevented, by modifications to individual computer work spaces. Because implementing these modifications for all employees would be somewhat costly, Sonex's policy is to implement modifications only when an employee reports vision-related problems. However, such modifications would enhance the productivity of all of Sonex's employees.

The information given, if accurate, could best be used in support of which of the following positions?

A. It would be to Sonex's advantage to reduce the number of its employees.
B. Sonex employees would require training in how to use the modified computer workspaces.
C. Sonex's current policy might not be to its long-term advantage.
D. When Sonex's current computer work spaces were designed, it was known that the design might induce vision problems.
E. Sonex's computer work areas must be modified in order to satisfy industry standards.

Some people in a certain company have been reporting issues with their eyesight due to the computer-work that they do. This problem could be fixed but it would cost a lot to do this for everyone. The currently policy therefore is to only fix a workspace of an employee if the employee raises a vision issue first. That being said, if the company were to do these workspace fixes for everyone, it'd improve the efficiency of all the employees.

We're asked to look for something the passage would kind of lead into.

(C) mentions how the current policy of fixing workspaces only when an employee raises an issue may not be in the long term interest of the company. Sure, the amount of money to fix everyone's workspaces may be costly... but, over the long term, if your employees become permanently more efficient with their work, the company may be better off. Basically, the cost could be seen as an investment that could ultimately be better for the company. Imagine you spend $100,000 fixing all the workspaces and the extra efficiency your employees get as a result results in $200,000 extra profit in the same year.

PriyeshLakar · Answer

Why not A? I got confused b/w A and C and finally chose A.

The reason which I thought and got it wrong was that if Sonex reduced it's number of employees then implementing for all employees will not be "that" costly and additionally the reduction in number will be get compensated with the increase in the efficiency of the existing employees.

jcrafer · Answer

My view here: Suppose that the implementation of the new station is $200 per worker, if the quantity of workers is reduced it is still $200 per worker. Per worker, according to the passage, it is "expensive".

VasundharaS · Answer

Why not B???
A. Passage doesn't talk about issues that should lead to laying off
B. Yes, that can be a factor leading to increased cost (modification implementation is costly)
C. We are assuming that the passage is stating the truth, and it states that the modifications and policies would enhance the productivity for all. So this is a No given we'd assume that this method would work
D. Undermines - no
E. Out of scope

GMATNinja · Answer

(C) refers to Sonex's CURRENT policy, which is to implement modifications  only when  an employee reports vision-related problems (to avoid the costly expense of implementing these modifications for all employees).

The evidence in the passage about productivity suggests that Sonex might be better off, in the long run, making that investment, since it would lead to a widespread increase in productivity. So the passage supports the position that, in the long run, a NEW policy (implementation for all) would be better than the CURRENT policy (implementation only when vision-related problems are reported).

As for (B), there's nothing in the passage suggesting that the employees would require training in how to use the modified computer workspaces. Maybe the changes are all self-explanatory and no training is required. Perhaps, for example, the modifications involve changes to things like employees' desks, chairs, monitors, and input devices -- and the employees don't need to "do" anything aside from show up and use the new stuff.

Sure, it's  possible  that the employees would require training in how to use the modified computer workspaces, but there's no evidence in the passage one way or the other. Since (B) is not supported (or undermined) by the passage, it can be eliminated.

I hope that helps!

rak08 · Answer

C i feel is best suited because 2 reasons :
1. Other options are not aligned ~ A is unreasonable, B ~ it will require training so ? if thats what makes it costly maybe internally employees can be trained by those who received training D ~ the reason for vision issues is quite natural i.e daily computer work + small % have such issues so design is not "inducing the vision problems" E ~ no mention of industry standard.

2. In long term when it cans to modify turn by turn it loses the cost bargaining power ~ making it more costly. + time taking as someone will first have those problems then recover.

DachauerDon · Answer

I eliminated C because if they are waiting for employees to report the issues before they fix them, then this policy is much more beneficial in the long term than in the short term (i.e. over time, they will fix issues as they become issues vs. significant costs in installing all modifications when not all need them in the short term). Even if they gain productivity in the short term plan to install all mods, what if they actually care a lot more about efficient spending vs productivity?

I chose A because if implementing the modifications is costly for all employees, but the modifications enhance productivity, then by reducing the number of employees, I cut the cost to implement but the loss of productivity from losing some employees is balanced out by the gain in productivity for the employees with implemented modifications.

I can understand why C is correct, but I don't see myself choosing it over A (it seems logical whereas I was confused by C, specifically the differentiation between what was the long term and short term policy). Can someone give some advice?

GMATNinja · Answer

Reducing costs isn't necessarily advantageous. Sonex would save lots of money if it fired 99% of its staff, but then the company would likely be unable to function and make money.

Sure, reducing the number of employees saves some money, but what about the work those employees were doing? Unless we assume that those employees were pretty useless, their absence has a indirect cost based on the value added by those employees.

We can conclude that downsizing would reduce costs, but, without more information, we cannot reasonably conclude that downsizing would be advantageous.

Similarly, the current policy has an indirect "cost" because it sacrifices productivity. Enhanced productivity means, quite simply, more output per worker, which likely means that Sonex can do more without increasing costs. The current plan might save money in the short term, but investing in the modifications would likely be financially beneficial in the long run.

I hope that helps!

Sonex Corporation employees use computers in their daily work, and

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