Some businesses believe that when employees are interrupted while doing their work, they experience a decrease in energy and productivity....
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Some businesses believe that when employees are interrupted while doing their work, they experience a decrease in energy and productivity. However, a team led by Harshad Puranik, who studies management, has found that interruptions by colleagues can have a social component that increases employees' sense of belonging, resulting in greater job satisfaction that benefits employees and employers. Therefore, businesses should recognize that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the interpersonal benefits of some interruptions in the workplace may offset the perceived negative effects.
in order to maximize productivity, employers should be willing to interrupt employees frequently throughout the day.
most employees avoid interrupting colleagues because they don't appreciate being interrupted themselves.
in order to cultivate an ideal workplace environment, interruptions of work should be discouraged.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Some businesses believe that when employees are interrupted while doing their work, they experience a decrease in energy and productivity.' |
|
| 'However, a team led by Harshad Puranik, who studies management, has found that interruptions by colleagues can have a social component that increases employees' sense of belonging, resulting in greater job satisfaction that benefits employees and employers.' |
|
| 'Therefore, businesses should recognize that ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research shows that workplace interruptions by colleagues may have social benefits that contradict the common belief that all interruptions are harmful.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with a common business assumption about interruptions being harmful, then presents research that challenges this view by showing social benefits, and concludes with what businesses should therefore recognize based on this new evidence.
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 passage shows that Puranik's research contradicts the common business belief
- The research found that colleague interruptions can actually have social benefits that increase job satisfaction
- Since the conclusion starts with 'Therefore, businesses should recognize that...', we need something that acknowledges these research findings
- Key elements the correct answer must have:
- Recognition that interruptions can have benefits (not just negatives)
- Some acknowledgment that these benefits might balance out or offset the assumed downsides
- A perspective that businesses should consider both sides, not just the negative view
the interpersonal benefits of some interruptions in the workplace may offset the perceived negative effects.
✓ Correct
- Directly acknowledges that interruptions can have 'interpersonal benefits' and uses 'may offset' which shows these benefits can balance the negative effects
- Matches perfectly with Puranik's research about social components and belonging
in order to maximize productivity, employers should be willing to interrupt employees frequently throughout the day.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests employers should interrupt 'frequently throughout the day' which is too extreme
- The research doesn't support maximizing interruptions, just recognizing their potential benefits
most employees avoid interrupting colleagues because they don't appreciate being interrupted themselves.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on employees avoiding interrupting each other
- The passage doesn't provide any information about employee behavior or preferences regarding interrupting colleagues
in order to cultivate an ideal workplace environment, interruptions of work should be discouraged.
✗ Incorrect
- Recommends discouraging interruptions, which directly contradicts Puranik's research
- Goes against the 'Therefore' logic - if interruptions have social benefits, why discourage them?