The customer insights division works from a compact workspace on the eighth floor, positioned multiple levels away from the main...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The customer insights division works from a compact workspace on the eighth floor, positioned multiple levels away from the main conference hall where critical business decisions are formulated. Due to the division's _______ standing in the organizational structure, their recommendations frequently struggled to impact strategic conversations until several weeks following quarterly assessments.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
marginal
transparent
provisional
integrated
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The customer insights division works from a compact workspace on the eighth floor, positioned multiple levels away from the main conference hall where critical business decisions are formulated.' |
|
| 'Due to the division's _______ standing in the organizational structure,' |
|
| 'their recommendations frequently struggled to impact strategic conversations until several weeks following quarterly assessments.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The customer insights division's position in the organizational hierarchy results in their recommendations having limited and delayed impact on strategic decisions.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that the customer insights division is physically separated from decision-making centers, then indicates there's something about their organizational standing (the blank) that explains why their recommendations struggle to influence strategic conversations in a timely manner.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The word needs to describe the division's 'standing in the organizational structure' that would logically explain why their recommendations struggle to impact strategic conversations and there's a significant delay before their input is considered
- We need a word that suggests low importance or peripheral status in the company hierarchy
marginal
- 'Marginal' means having little importance or being on the periphery
- Perfectly explains why recommendations struggle to impact strategic conversations
- Creates clear cause-effect: marginal standing → delayed, limited influence
- Matches the evidence of physical separation and delayed consideration
transparent
- 'Transparent' means clear, open, or easily understood
- Doesn't explain why their recommendations struggle to have impact
- A transparent standing would logically make their input more influential, not less
provisional
- 'Provisional' means temporary or conditional
- Doesn't logically connect to struggling with strategic influence
- Being temporary doesn't inherently explain delayed impact on decisions
integrated
- 'Integrated' means well-coordinated or combined with other parts
- Would suggest strong organizational connection, not separation
- Contradicts all evidence of isolation and limited influence shown in the passage