4)The following appeared in a report presented for discussion at a meeting of the directors of a company that manufactures parts for heavy machinery:
The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasing department.
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
The argument states that the falling revenues that the company is facing is mainly due to delays in manufacturing and the company is experiencing delays due to poor planning in purchasing metals. Further, the argument proposes that as the manager who is currently handling purchasing of raw material has little background about the properties of metals and since he is from a different background, Scientist from a Research division must be brought in as a manager of the purchasing department and the current manager must be designated to Sales department. The argument as it stands has several gaps and flaws. It fails to consider several key factors that are required for the conclusion to follow. This makes the argument weak and not convincing.
First of all, the argument assumes that the sole reason for the delays in manufacturing is poor planning of purchasing metals. The author fails to even consider other factors that could be potential reasons. Factors such as unskilled workers, Outdated Machinery, problems with the Unions, poor staff management that leads to less morale within company workers etc. could also be the reason for delays. Without mentioning any such factors, the argument fails to convince the reader that the poor planning of purchasing metals is the sole reason for delays.
Secondly, if author would have provided more information on why knowledge about properties of raw materials is required in order make a purchase, then the argument would have been stronger. It could be the case where in that raw material is being used in the industry since long time and there is absolutely no need to check the properties of the metal every time you make a purchase.
Further, author readily assumes that if Scientist from the research division is brought in as a Manager of Purchasing department, things would get better. But there is no solid evidence or facts to prove this point. Purchasing Metals is not the only job that Manager is entitled to do. Manager is responsible for various other tasks and he does have to wear multiple hats within an organization. Manager is mainly responsible for staff management, Product deliveries and timelines, handling business and clients, Handling Unions etc. Manager must be well versed in decision making, he must have good problem solving skills, he must be good at people management, and he must be decisive. Without analyzing any such factors, argument assumes that Scientist from Research division will be a good fit for managing the purchasing department. This conclusion has no solid grounds and fails to convince the reader as it is clearly evident.
Lastly, argument also proposes to move the current manager to sales department. Again this proposal is without basis. How do we know that the manager will be able to give his best and perform duties in sales department given that he has no experience in Sales and Marketing? There are lot of assumptions that that argument makes but with no evidence and fails to convince the reader in all aspects.
In sum, the argument is neither persuasive nor convincing as it stands. Had it mentioned all aforementioned points as detailed above, the author not only would have strengthened and bolstered his argument but also would have made the argument more logical and cogent![]()
The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasing department.
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
The argument states that the falling revenues that the company is facing is mainly due to delays in manufacturing and the company is experiencing delays due to poor planning in purchasing metals. Further, the argument proposes that as the manager who is currently handling purchasing of raw material has little background about the properties of metals and since he is from a different background, Scientist from a Research division must be brought in as a manager of the purchasing department and the current manager must be designated to Sales department. The argument as it stands has several gaps and flaws. It fails to consider several key factors that are required for the conclusion to follow. This makes the argument weak and not convincing.
First of all, the argument assumes that the sole reason for the delays in manufacturing is poor planning of purchasing metals. The author fails to even consider other factors that could be potential reasons. Factors such as unskilled workers, Outdated Machinery, problems with the Unions, poor staff management that leads to less morale within company workers etc. could also be the reason for delays. Without mentioning any such factors, the argument fails to convince the reader that the poor planning of purchasing metals is the sole reason for delays.
Secondly, if author would have provided more information on why knowledge about properties of raw materials is required in order make a purchase, then the argument would have been stronger. It could be the case where in that raw material is being used in the industry since long time and there is absolutely no need to check the properties of the metal every time you make a purchase.
Further, author readily assumes that if Scientist from the research division is brought in as a Manager of Purchasing department, things would get better. But there is no solid evidence or facts to prove this point. Purchasing Metals is not the only job that Manager is entitled to do. Manager is responsible for various other tasks and he does have to wear multiple hats within an organization. Manager is mainly responsible for staff management, Product deliveries and timelines, handling business and clients, Handling Unions etc. Manager must be well versed in decision making, he must have good problem solving skills, he must be good at people management, and he must be decisive. Without analyzing any such factors, argument assumes that Scientist from Research division will be a good fit for managing the purchasing department. This conclusion has no solid grounds and fails to convince the reader as it is clearly evident.
Lastly, argument also proposes to move the current manager to sales department. Again this proposal is without basis. How do we know that the manager will be able to give his best and perform duties in sales department given that he has no experience in Sales and Marketing? There are lot of assumptions that that argument makes but with no evidence and fails to convince the reader in all aspects.
In sum, the argument is neither persuasive nor convincing as it stands. Had it mentioned all aforementioned points as detailed above, the author not only would have strengthened and bolstered his argument but also would have made the argument more logical and cogent