A 2019 case study of TechGlobal Corporation documented CEO Sarah Chen's remarkable ability to persuade resistant board members to embrace...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A 2019 case study of TechGlobal Corporation documented CEO Sarah Chen's remarkable ability to persuade resistant board members to embrace innovative strategic directions, particularly during the company's digital transformation initiative: _____
Which excerpt from the case study most effectively illustrates the claim?
Chen's quarterly presentations consistently drew full attendance from board members, who valued her comprehensive analysis of market trends and competitive positioning.
Board meetings under Chen's leadership were characterized by open dialogue about strategic options. She encouraged questions and maintained a collaborative atmosphere throughout discussions.
When addressing the digital transformation proposal, Chen displayed extensive knowledge of emerging technologies. She could discuss implementation details at length, demonstrating mastery of complex technical concepts.
Several board members initially opposed the digital transformation, citing cost concerns and implementation risks. However, meeting transcripts reveal that Chen's systematic presentation of competitive analysis and projected ROI consistently converted skeptics, with one member noting that her 'logical framework made resistance untenable.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A 2019 case study of TechGlobal Corporation documented CEO Sarah Chen's remarkable ability to persuade resistant board members to embrace innovative strategic directions, particularly during the company's digital transformation initiative:" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A case study documented CEO Sarah Chen's exceptional skill at persuading board members who initially resisted innovative strategic directions.
Argument Flow: The sentence establishes the research context (2019 case study) and presents the key finding about Chen's persuasive abilities, specifically highlighting her success during the digital transformation initiative, setting up the need for supporting evidence.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which excerpt from the case study best supports the claim about Chen's persuasion abilities
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that shows Chen successfully persuading resistant board members
Any limiting keywords? "most effectively illustrates" - we need the strongest, most direct evidence
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
The right answer should tell us:
- It must show board members who were initially resistant or opposed to something
- It must demonstrate Chen's actions that changed their minds
- It should show the transformation from resistance to acceptance
- Ideally, it would focus on the digital transformation initiative mentioned in the claim
Chen's quarterly presentations consistently drew full attendance from board members, who valued her comprehensive analysis of market trends and competitive positioning.
- Shows attendance and analysis skills but doesn't demonstrate persuasion of resistant members
- No evidence of initial resistance being overcome
Board meetings under Chen's leadership were characterized by open dialogue about strategic options. She encouraged questions and maintained a collaborative atmosphere throughout discussions.
- Describes collaborative leadership style but doesn't show resistance being converted
- Open dialogue isn't the same as persuading opponents
When addressing the digital transformation proposal, Chen displayed extensive knowledge of emerging technologies. She could discuss implementation details at length, demonstrating mastery of complex technical concepts.
- Demonstrates technical knowledge but not persuasive ability
- Shows expertise without evidence of changing resistant minds
Several board members initially opposed the digital transformation, citing cost concerns and implementation risks. However, meeting transcripts reveal that Chen's systematic presentation of competitive analysis and projected ROI consistently converted skeptics, with one member noting that her 'logical framework made resistance untenable.'
- Explicitly states "Several board members initially opposed" showing clear resistance
- Shows the transformation: "Chen's systematic presentation... consistently converted skeptics"
- Provides specific evidence of persuasion working
- Directly addresses the digital transformation context from the original claim