Management consultant Elena Rodriguez has observed significant productivity differences among companies in her client portfolio. While companies using...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Management consultant Elena Rodriguez has observed significant productivity differences among companies in her client portfolio. While companies using individual performance reviews average 78% project completion rates, those using team-based evaluation systems average 91% completion rates. Rodriguez claims that the team evaluation approach itself is the primary cause of this productivity advantage, rather than other organizational factors that might correlate with evaluation system choice.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Rodriguez's causal explanation?
A longitudinal study tracking companies that switched evaluation systems found productivity improvements in 89% of firms that adopted team evaluations and productivity declines in 84% of firms that adopted individual evaluations.
Companies with team evaluations are significantly more likely to be technology startups founded after 2010, while companies with individual evaluations are more likely to be established manufacturing firms.
Employee surveys reveal that workers at companies with team evaluations report 22% higher job satisfaction scores and more positive assessments of workplace collaboration.
Analysis shows that companies using team evaluations typically invest 35% more in professional development programs and maintain more comprehensive employee training systems.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Management consultant Elena Rodriguez has observed significant productivity differences among companies in her client portfolio." |
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| "While companies using individual performance reviews average 78% project completion rates, those using team-based evaluation systems average 91% completion rates." |
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| "Rodriguez claims that the team evaluation approach itself is the primary cause of this productivity advantage, rather than other organizational factors that might correlate with evaluation system choice." |
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Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Elena Rodriguez argues that team-based evaluation systems directly cause higher productivity, not other organizational factors that might be associated with evaluation system choice.
Argument Flow: Rodriguez presents data showing productivity differences between evaluation approaches, then makes a causal claim that the evaluation system itself (not confounding variables) drives the productivity advantage.
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
- To support Rodriguez's causal claim, we need evidence that shows the evaluation system itself causes the productivity difference, not just correlation
- The best evidence would control for other organizational factors and show that when evaluation systems change, productivity changes accordingly
A longitudinal study tracking companies that switched evaluation systems found productivity improvements in 89% of firms that adopted team evaluations and productivity declines in 84% of firms that adopted individual evaluations.
- This longitudinal study tracks companies before and after they switch evaluation systems
- By following the same companies over time, it controls for other organizational factors
- Shows causation: when companies switch to team evaluations, 89% improve; when they switch to individual evaluations, 84% decline
- Directly addresses Rodriguez's claim by ruling out confounding variables
Companies with team evaluations are significantly more likely to be technology startups founded after 2010, while companies with individual evaluations are more likely to be established manufacturing firms.
- Shows that team evaluation companies tend to be tech startups while individual evaluation companies are manufacturing firms
- Actually suggests confounding factors (industry type, company age) might explain the productivity differences
- Undermines Rodriguez's causal claim rather than supporting it
Employee surveys reveal that workers at companies with team evaluations report 22% higher job satisfaction scores and more positive assessments of workplace collaboration.
- Provides information about employee satisfaction and collaboration
- Doesn't address whether evaluation systems cause productivity differences
- Could suggest satisfaction is a mediating factor, but doesn't establish causation between evaluation systems and productivity
Analysis shows that companies using team evaluations typically invest 35% more in professional development programs and maintain more comprehensive employee training systems.
- Shows that team evaluation companies invest more in professional development
- Suggests another confounding variable (training investment) that could explain productivity differences
- Like Choice B, this introduces alternative explanations rather than supporting Rodriguez's causal claim