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The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years back to reduce the incidence of employee and patient injuries during lifting and transferring of the patients. Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually. Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.
Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?
  • a)
    In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.
  • b)
    The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.
  • c)
    There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.
  • d)
    The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.
  • e)
    For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years ba...
The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years back to reduce the incidence of employee and patient injuries during lifting and transferring of the patients. Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually. Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.
Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?
Argument Analysis
 
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
The argument concludes that the injury reduction program has not resulted in any economic benefit for the company. There are other benefits in the form of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, but they are intangible and so don’t translate into any concrete economic gain.
Pre-Thinking Approach
Let’s see how we can make the conclusion less believable.  To do so, we will look at the logical structure, focusing on linkage 1and the conclusion.  Thus the way to weaken the conclusion will be to weaken this linkage i.e. find a new piece of information that will suggest that the program has led to some sort of economic benefit for the hospital.
Linkage#1Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually.
  • Weakener – Show an economic gain that can accrue from the intangible benefits mentioned. If that happens, our belief in the author’s claim that the program hasn’t led to any economic benefit is greatly reduced.
    • Instance 1: Studies have shown that the lack of satisfaction at work for hospital employees results in their taking significantly more number of sick leaves, costing hospitals huge amounts of money in remunerating part-time back-up staff.
With this pre-thinking in mind, let's take a look at the option statements.
Answer Choices
A
In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.
Correct
This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Linkage 1 weakener. If the hospital retains employees for longer durations, it’ll have to spend less on hiring and training. This fact shows that ICH has been able to save costs on hiring and training new employees- a clear tangible, economic benefit.
B
The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This statement talks about the situation before the training program. Knowing whether this proportion was stable or variable earlier doesn’t help us as we already know the estimated savings and benefits after the injury reduction program.
C
There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
Knowing that there are ways that, if implemented, could reduce the costs doesn’t show that the program in its current form has contributed to the hospitals economic interests.
D
The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The argument doesn’t focus on the possibility of further reducing the injuries, i.e. it doesn’t conclude on whether program can reduce injuries but whether it has already led to a tangible economic benefit.
E
For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
While the brand value could go up due to the injury reduction program as the program results in fewer injuries for patients, we can’t link this increase in brand value to a concrete economic benefit, which is required to show that the program has resulted in economic gains, thereby reducing our belief in the author’s conclusion.
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The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years back to reduce the incidence of employee and patient injuries during lifting and transferring of the patients. Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually. Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2025 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years back to reduce the incidence of employee and patient injuries during lifting and transferring of the patients. Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually. Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years back to reduce the incidence of employee and patient injuries during lifting and transferring of the patients. Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually. Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
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Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. 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Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. 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Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. 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Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice The Intermountain chain of hospitals launched a program a few years back to reduce the incidence of employee and patient injuries during lifting and transferring of the patients. Reduction of such injuries is leading to an estimated savings of $500K annually; however, the extra training and equipment expenditure to implement the program cost around the same annually. Therefore, except for the intangible benefit of employee satisfaction and longer employee tenure, the program has not led to any economic benefit for the company.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?a)In the hospital industry, hiring and training new employees is a costly affair.b)The proportion of employees and patients who get injured during lifting and transferring of patients at the Intermountain chain of hospitals was stable before the program was launched.c)There are ways to reduce the program costs while maintaining the same level of training and the same quality of equipment.d)The incidence of employee and patient injuries can be reduced more by spending more money on the program.e)For the Intermountain chain of hospitals, the brand value in terms of patient care is very important.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
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