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Difficulty: MediumWeaken

Human Resources Director: Six months ago, our company replaced its open-plan office layout with private cubicles in an effort to boost employee productivity. Recent observational data reveals that employees are currently spending 30 percent less time engaging in casual conversations in the office corridors than they did before the renovation. Clearly, the transition to private cubicles has successfully increased overall worker productivity by reducing social distractions.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the human resources director's argument?

  1. The company's most innovative and profitable projects typically emerge from ideas generated during spontaneous, casual conversations in common areas.Answer
  2. B
    Employee output metrics show a significant reduction in data-entry errors since the private cubicles were installed.
  3. C
    Employees are actually spending the exact same amount of time engaging in casual conversations in the corridors as they were before the renovation.
  4. D
    Most competing firms in the industry still utilize open-plan office layouts because they are substantially cheaper to maintain.
  5. E
    Employees who spend the most time in their private cubicles tend to be introverted individuals who naturally prefer working in isolation.

Answer

The statement that the company's most innovative and profitable projects typically emerge from ideas generated during spontaneous, casual conversations in common areas.
This statement directly attacks the core assumption in the human resources director's argument. The director assumes that less time spent in casual corridor conversations equates to fewer 'social distractions' and therefore higher productivity. However, if these casual conversations are actually the source of the company's most innovative and profitable projects, then a 30 percent reduction in these conversations would likely damage the company's productivity. This severs the logical connection between the premise (less corridor chatting) and the conclusion (increased productivity).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the argument.
The conclusion is that the transition to private cubicles has increased overall worker productivity by reducing social distractions.
To evaluate or weaken an argument, you must first isolate the exact claim the author is attempting to prove.
2
Identify the premise provided in support of the conclusion.
The premise is that employees are spending 30 percent less time engaging in casual corridor conversations since the cubicles were installed.
Understanding the evidence highlights the gap between what is explicitly stated and what is concluded.
3
Find the logical gap or unstated assumption in the reasoning.
The director assumes that 'casual conversations in the corridors' are strictly unproductive 'social distractions' that hinder work.
Identifying the assumption reveals the argument's vulnerability.
4
Select the option that attacks this assumption.
The correct option demonstrates that these casual conversations are actually highly productive because they lead to profitable and innovative projects.
By showing that the supposed 'distraction' is actually a driver of productivity, the link between the premise and the conclusion is severed, severely weakening the argument.

Key Concept

Argument Evaluation: Weakening an Argument by Attacking an Unstated Assumption
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