The following text is adapted from a report on organizational change at a technology company.Department head Robert Chen initially approached...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a report on organizational change at a technology company.
Department head Robert Chen initially approached the company's new collaborative software platform with measured caution, implementing it gradually within his team to assess its practical applications. The transition required extensive training sessions and workflow adjustments that temporarily slowed productivity. However, as team members became proficient with the system, Chen observed significant improvements in project coordination and cross-departmental communication that exceeded his initial expectations.
The platform's integrated features ultimately transformed routine processes that had previously required multiple separate applications and lengthy email chains.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To contrast different approaches to implementing new workplace technology
To describe the training requirements associated with adopting collaborative software
To trace Chen's evolving assessment of the new platform's impact
To explain the specific features that made the collaborative software effective
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Department head Robert Chen initially approached the company's new collaborative software platform with measured caution, implementing it gradually within his team to assess its practical applications." |
|
| "The transition required extensive training sessions and workflow adjustments that temporarily slowed productivity." |
|
| "However, as team members became proficient with the system, Chen observed significant improvements in project coordination and cross-departmental communication that exceeded his initial expectations." |
|
| "The platform's integrated features ultimately transformed routine processes that had previously required multiple separate applications and lengthy email chains." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The text traces Robert Chen's experience with implementing collaborative software, showing how his initially cautious approach led through temporary difficulties to ultimately positive results that exceeded his expectations.
Argument Flow: The passage follows Chen's journey chronologically, starting with his careful initial approach, moving through the inevitable challenges of implementation, then pivoting to show how these difficulties gave way to significant improvements that surpassed what Chen had hoped for.
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
- From our analysis, this text follows Chen through a clear progression: he starts cautious, faces implementation challenges, then discovers the platform works better than expected
- The passage tracks this evolution in Chen's experience and assessment
- The right answer should capture this journey aspect—how Chen's view changed over time from initial caution to positive surprise
To contrast different approaches to implementing new workplace technology
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text contrasts "different approaches" to implementation
- The passage only follows Chen's single approach—there's no comparison with other methods
To describe the training requirements associated with adopting collaborative software
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on describing training requirements as the main purpose
- Training is mentioned in just one sentence as part of the challenges, not the main focus
To trace Chen's evolving assessment of the new platform's impact
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the progression we mapped: Chen's assessment evolving from caution to challenges to positive surprise
- "Trace" matches the chronological journey structure
To explain the specific features that made the collaborative software effective
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the purpose is explaining "specific features" of the software
- The passage barely mentions features—only "integrated features" in the final sentence as supporting evidence