ABLE Case Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A business memo states: 'Due to declining revenue, the marketing team must reduce its budget by 30% while maintaining current outreach targets.' What is the primary conflict in this directive?
- The timeline is unrealistic
- Fewer resources are expected to produce the same results (Correct answer)
- The marketing team was not consulted
- The revenue decline is overstated
Correct answer: Fewer resources are expected to produce the same results
The directive creates a conflict because it demands identical output with significantly fewer resources, which is logically contradictory.
Question 2: A case study describes a hospital that reduced patient wait times by 40% after hiring additional intake staff. A critic argues the improvement was caused by a new scheduling software installed the same month. This criticism is an example of:
- Ad hominem reasoning
- Confounding variable concern (Correct answer)
- Circular logic
- False dichotomy
Correct answer: Confounding variable concern
The critic identifies a confounding variable—another simultaneous change that could explain the outcome.
Question 3: In a case report, a manager writes: 'Sales improved every quarter that our new rep was on leave.' What logical error does this statement most likely contain?
- Overgeneralization
- Correlation mistaken for causation (Correct answer)
- Appeal to authority
- Hasty generalization
Correct answer: Correlation mistaken for causation
The statement implies the rep's absence caused the improvement, but correlation alone does not establish causation.
Question 4: A case analysis reads: 'All employees who received the new training completed the project on time. Therefore, the training was effective.' Which additional piece of evidence would most strengthen this conclusion?
- The training cost less than previous programs
- Untrained employees on similar projects frequently missed deadlines (Correct answer)
- The project manager praised the team's effort
- The training lasted three full days
Correct answer: Untrained employees on similar projects frequently missed deadlines
Comparing outcomes of untrained employees provides a baseline that makes the trained group's success meaningful.
Question 5: A case study presents two arguments: Argument A uses statistical data from a peer-reviewed study; Argument B relies on the personal testimony of one expert. In case analysis, which argument is generally considered stronger evidence?
- Argument B, because expert opinion is authoritative
- Argument A, because peer-reviewed data is systematically validated (Correct answer)
- Both are equally valid in all contexts
- Argument B, because personal experience is more relatable
Correct answer: Argument A, because peer-reviewed data is systematically validated
Peer-reviewed statistical evidence is systematically tested and validated, making it more reliable than a single personal account.
Question 6: A case analysis asks you to evaluate the following recommendation: 'The company should eliminate its customer service department to reduce costs.' Which question is MOST critical to ask before accepting this recommendation?
- How long has the department existed?
- What impact would elimination have on customer retention and revenue? (Correct answer)
- How many employees are in the department?
- What is the department's annual holiday schedule?
Correct answer: What impact would elimination have on customer retention and revenue?
The most critical question addresses whether cost savings would be offset by revenue losses from reduced customer satisfaction.
Question 7: A written case presents a school that adopted a four-day week and reported increased teacher satisfaction. The report concludes: 'All schools should adopt a four-day week.' This conclusion is flawed because:
- Teacher satisfaction is unimportant
- It generalizes from one case to all schools without considering contextual differences (Correct answer)
- The four-day week is too radical a change
- The report did not mention student satisfaction
Correct answer: It generalizes from one case to all schools without considering contextual differences
Generalizing a conclusion from a single case to all cases ignores the unique conditions that may have influenced the outcome.
ABLE Case Analysis 2
A business memo states: 'Due to declining revenue, the marketing team must reduce its budget by 30% while maintaining current outreach targets.' What is the primary conflict in this directive?