HBRI Critical Evaluation of Arguments

Question 1

A manager argues: 'Our competitor released a new product last quarter and their profits rose 20%.
We should release a new product to increase our profits.' What is the primary weakness in this argument?

Accepted Answer

The argument assumes correlation implies causation without ruling out other factors

Answer

The competitor's product may have been poorly designed

Answer

New products always increase profits

Answer

The manager should not monitor competitors

Question 2

Which of the following best strengthens the argument that remote work increases employee productivity?

Accepted Answer

A controlled study showing output per hour increased 15% after switching to remote work

Answer

A survey showing employees prefer working from home

Answer

An article stating that office commutes are stressful

Answer

A CEO who believes remote work is the future

Question 3

A company reports: 'Satisfaction scores rose after we introduced free coffee.' A skeptic says this proves nothing about satisfaction drivers. The skeptic's position is best supported by which observation?

Accepted Answer

The company also reduced meeting frequency and redesigned workspaces at the same time

Answer

Coffee is too expensive to sustain as a benefit

Answer

Employees already had access to vending machines

Answer

Some employees do not drink coffee

Question 4

An executive concludes: 'Every successful company in our industry uses agile methodology, so adopting agile will make us successful.' This reasoning is flawed because:

Accepted Answer

Success may have preceded agile adoption, or agile may be a result rather than a cause of success

Answer

Agile methodology is difficult to implement

Answer

Not all industries use agile

Answer

The executive lacks technical knowledge

Question 5

Which argument is logically valid?

Accepted Answer

All regulated industries require compliance reports; healthcare is a regulated industry; therefore healthcare requires compliance reports

Answer

All our clients are profitable; Smith Co. is profitable; therefore Smith Co. is our client

Answer

Some managers are leaders; Jones is a leader; therefore Jones is a manager

Answer

No startups have formal HR; TechCo has formal HR; therefore TechCo is not a startup

Question 6

A division head argues against budget cuts by saying: 'If you cut our budget, morale will drop, then turnover will spike, then we'll lose institutional knowledge, and ultimately the whole company will fail.' This type of reasoning is known as:

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope

Answer

Ad hominem

Answer

False dichotomy

Answer

Appeal to authority

Question 7

Two employees debate a policy change. Employee A says it will save costs; Employee B says it will hurt culture. The strongest counter-argument Employee A could make is:

Accepted Answer

Data from similar companies shows cost savings were achieved without measurable culture decline

Answer

Culture doesn't matter in business

Answer

Employee B has no financial background

Answer

Policy changes are always disruptive