The following text is from a business journal article about corporate leadership.When DataFlow Corporation faced a major security breach that...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is from a business journal article about corporate leadership.
When DataFlow Corporation faced a major security breach that threatened to destroy customer trust, the board appointed 31-year-old Marcus Chen as interim CEO. Many employees worried that his limited executive experience would prove inadequate during such a crisis. However, Chen's transparent communication style and collaborative decision-making approach helped restore stakeholder confidence within six months. Rather than making unilateral decisions, he involved department heads in developing recovery strategies and kept customers informed through regular updates. His willingness to take personal responsibility for the company's mistakes, combined with his systematic approach to implementing security improvements, ultimately transformed the crisis into an opportunity for organizational growth.
According to the text, what is true about Marcus Chen?
Chen's collaborative approach and transparency were key factors in the company's recovery.
Chen was initially unprepared for the challenges he faced as interim CEO.
Chen's security expertise was essential for solving the company's technical problems.
Chen's success depended mainly on support from department heads and customers.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "When DataFlow Corporation faced a major security breach that threatened to destroy customer trust, the board appointed 31-year-old Marcus Chen as interim CEO." |
|
| "Many employees worried that his limited executive experience would prove inadequate during such a crisis." |
|
| "However, Chen's transparent communication style and collaborative decision-making approach helped restore stakeholder confidence within six months." |
|
| "Rather than making unilateral decisions, he involved department heads in developing recovery strategies and kept customers informed through regular updates." |
|
| "His willingness to take personal responsibility for the company's mistakes, combined with his systematic approach to implementing security improvements, ultimately transformed the crisis into an opportunity for organizational growth." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
- CRISIS CONTEXT: DataFlow security breach threatens trust
- APPOINTMENT & DOUBTS: Chen appointed despite experience concerns
- SUCCESS APPROACH: Transparent communication, Collaborative decision-making, Involved department heads, Regular customer updates
- POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION: Crisis → Growth opportunity
Main Point: Marcus Chen's transparent and collaborative leadership style successfully transformed DataFlow Corporation's security crisis into an opportunity for organizational growth.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a crisis situation where Chen was appointed despite employee doubts about his experience, then demonstrates how his specific leadership qualities (transparency and collaboration) not only addressed the immediate concerns but ultimately created positive change for the organization.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? What is true about Marcus Chen according to the text
What type of answer do we need? A factual statement that can be directly supported by the passage content
Any limiting keywords? "According to the text" - must be explicitly stated or clearly supported by passage evidence
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Based on our analysis, the correct answer should highlight Chen's key leadership qualities that made him successful
- The passage emphasizes two main things: his transparent communication and his collaborative approach to decision-making
- These weren't just personality traits - they were the specific factors that helped restore stakeholder confidence and transform the crisis
- The passage also shows that rather than being hindered by his limited experience (as employees initially worried), he succeeded precisely because of how he approached leadership - involving others, being transparent, and taking responsibility
- So the right answer should focus on his collaborative and transparent leadership style being crucial to the company's recovery
Chen's collaborative approach and transparency were key factors in the company's recovery.
✓ Correct
- Directly matches our passage analysis - Chen's "transparent communication style and collaborative decision-making approach helped restore stakeholder confidence"
- The passage provides specific evidence: he "involved department heads" and "kept customers informed through regular updates"
- This identifies the key factors that made the recovery successful
Chen was initially unprepared for the challenges he faced as interim CEO.
✗ Incorrect
- States Chen was "initially unprepared" but the passage shows employees worried about his limited experience, not that he was actually unprepared
- The passage demonstrates he was quite prepared with effective leadership strategies
- What trap this represents: Confusing employee concerns with actual reality - the worry about his experience doesn't mean he was unprepared
Chen's security expertise was essential for solving the company's technical problems.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims his "security expertise" was essential, but the passage never mentions Chen having security expertise
- His success came from leadership qualities, not technical knowledge
- The passage focuses on communication and collaboration, not technical skills
Chen's success depended mainly on support from department heads and customers.
✗ Incorrect
- Says his success "depended mainly on support from" others, but the passage shows Chen actively led the recovery effort
- While he involved others, the passage emphasizes his leadership approach and personal responsibility
- What trap this represents: Misinterpreting collaboration as dependence - involving others strategically is different from depending on their support