While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:TechCorp implements a performance bonus system across its various department...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- TechCorp implements a performance bonus system across its various department teams.
- The bonus allocation creates disparities between different-sized departments.
- Each department receives points calculated through a specific formula for bonus distribution.
- The formula awards \(2\) points per team member and \(3.5\) points per completed major project.
- Smaller departments that complete numerous major projects receive disproportionately larger bonuses compared to larger departments with fewer major projects.
- This system has generated complaints about fairness in resource distribution.
The student wants to refute a claim that the bonus system unfairly favors larger departments. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
By allocating \(\mathrm{3.5}\) points per major project compared to \(\mathrm{2}\) points per team member, the formula actually overrepresents smaller departments that complete numerous projects, contradicting claims of bias toward larger departments.
TechCorp's bonus system unfairly disadvantages smaller departments by giving disproportionate bonuses to larger teams with more members.
The performance bonus system at TechCorp creates disparities between departments through its point-based allocation formula.
Smaller departments receive disproportionately larger bonuses, while the formula for calculating points favors teams with more completed projects over team size.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'TechCorp implements a performance bonus system across its various department teams.' |
|
| 'The bonus allocation creates disparities between different-sized departments.' |
|
| 'Each department receives points calculated through a specific formula for bonus distribution.' |
|
| 'The formula awards 2 points per team member and 3.5 points per completed major project.' |
|
| 'Smaller departments that complete numerous major projects receive disproportionately larger bonuses compared to larger departments with fewer major projects.' |
|
| 'This system has generated complaints about fairness in resource distribution.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: TechCorp's performance bonus system, which uses a point formula favoring projects over team size, actually benefits smaller departments with many completed projects more than larger departments.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively helps the student refute the claim that the bonus system unfairly favors larger departments.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence or reasoning that shows larger departments are NOT actually favored by this system.
Any limiting keywords? Most effectively helps refute the claim
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should demonstrate that smaller departments, not larger ones, actually benefit more from this bonus system due to the formula weighting projects more heavily than team members.
By allocating \(\mathrm{3.5}\) points per major project compared to \(\mathrm{2}\) points per team member, the formula actually overrepresents smaller departments that complete numerous projects, contradicting claims of bias toward larger departments.
✓ Correct
- Directly addresses the formula details that explain why smaller departments benefit more and explicitly contradicts the claim about bias toward larger departments.
TechCorp's bonus system unfairly disadvantages smaller departments by giving disproportionate bonuses to larger teams with more members.
✗ Incorrect
- Actually supports the claim rather than refuting it by saying the system disadvantages smaller departments.
The performance bonus system at TechCorp creates disparities between departments through its point-based allocation formula.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply restates that disparities exist without indicating which departments benefit.
Smaller departments receive disproportionately larger bonuses, while the formula for calculating points favors teams with more completed projects over team size.
✗ Incorrect
- Contains contradictory information and doesn't clearly refute the claim about larger department favoritism.