Critical Reasoning — Implicit Assumptions Personnel Manager’s argument: “The best way to solve workers’ dissatisfaction is cash rewards. This incentive solved the problem in CIDCO Company; therefore it should work here as well.” Assumptions to evaluate: I. The reasons for dissatisfaction in both companies were similar. II. Monetary incentives have universal appeal.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Only assumption I is implicit

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is an analogy-based recommendation: a solution that worked at CIDCO is proposed for another company. We must identify what must be true for the analogy to hold.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Cash rewards solved dissatisfaction at CIDCO.
  • Assumption I: both companies share similar causes of dissatisfaction.
  • Assumption II: money always works due to universal appeal.


Concept / Approach:
Analogical arguments require similarity on causal factors. Without similarity, extrapolation is weak. Universality is not required; the argument relies on relevant similarity, not on an absolute rule about money.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) If the root causes differ (e.g., safety vs pay), a monetary fix may fail. Therefore I is necessary to generalize from CIDCO to “here.”2) The argument does not require money to have universal appeal; it requires money to address this situation because of similar causes. Thus II is not necessary.


Verification / Alternative check:
Negate I: causes differ—analogy collapses. Negate II: money is not always effective—analogy can still work if this case matches CIDCO’s cause. Hence only I is implicit.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Only II / Either / Neither / Both: They either overstate the claim (universality) or fail to include the essential similarity condition.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “worked once” with “works everywhere.” Transferability hinges on cause similarity, not universality.


Final Answer:
Only assumption I is implicit

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