Which of the following contains reasoning most similar to Linda’s? A)

QUESTION

Which of the following contains reasoning most similar to Linda’s?

A) It would be a mistake to move all the employees to offices that match those of the new call center. The call center has been more productive since the move, but that is probably because of the excitement surrounding the move and not the new office design.
B) Since the customer service staff began using the new technology, they have taken more calls per staff hour; however, a number of staff members have quit because they were unable to use the new technology, and so the overall effect of the technology on productivity is unclear.
C) The increased productivity of the customer service staff does not show that Albelli is an effective manager. Albelli has been managing the customer service staff for years, and so she is responsible for their low productivity in other times.
D) The customer service ratings of the staff have improved since we began playing pleasant music in the call center. The pleasant music has most likely improved the mood of the staff, which explains why they are providing better service.
E) The performance of the call center improved after the peak season. But after the peak season, the call center dismissed its worst-performing employees. Therefore, the call center could see even greater improvement by dismissing the worst-performing employees among those who remain.

ANSWER

Answer: A
Explanation: A) Linda says that the team-based approach didn’t make a difference because any change would have been a good one. Similarly, Choice A claims that the new office design didn’t make a real difference. Instead, it was the novelty of new offices that improved performance. Choice B says that the results are mixed. Linda doesn’t say that there are any real results at all. Choice C puts all the responsibility (good and bad) on Albelli. Linda doesn’t do that. Choice D: Here, the music gets the credit for the improvement. Linda doesn’t give the team-based approach any credit. Choice E suggests another round of dismissals, which has no parallel in the original.