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Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on a computer monitor to prevent damage—can cost a company far more in employee time than it saves in electricity and monitor protection. Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.
Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?
  • a)
    A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.
  • b)
    An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.
  • c)
    The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.
  • d)
    A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.
  • e)
    An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on...
(A) A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.
This option suggests that choosing textbooks based on student preference may not be the most economical choice for the school. However, it does not directly relate to the principle of the cost of an action outweighing its benefits.
(B) An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.
This option presents a scenario where an upfront investment in an energy-efficient insulation system may initially cost more but ultimately save money over time. While it involves cost and benefits, it does not align closely with the principle illustrated in the scenario.
(C) The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.
This option compares the time it takes to have a pizza delivered to the time it takes to cook a complete dinner. Although it involves time considerations, it does not directly relate to the principle discussed in the scenario.
(D) A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.
This option closely aligns with the principle illustrated in the scenario. It suggests that the cost of implementing a complicated hotel security system may exceed the benefits it provides in terms of losses by theft. In this case, the potential loss of customer goodwill outweighs the monetary savings.
(E) An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.
This option presents a scenario where an electronic keyboard may have a lower upfront cost compared to a piano, but it may incur higher expenses for repairs. Although it involves cost considerations, it does not directly relate to the principle discussed in the scenario.
Among the given options, option (D) most closely conforms to the principle illustrated in the scenario, as it emphasizes that the cost in terms of customer goodwill may outweigh the benefits of implementing a complicated hotel security system.
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Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on...
Explanation of the Correct Answer (D)
The principle illustrated in the original statement revolves around the idea that certain investments, while seemingly beneficial, can lead to unintended consequences that outweigh their advantages. In this case, the screensavers are meant to save electricity and protect monitors, but they end up consuming more employee time than they save in costs.
Analysis of Option D
- Complicated Security System: A complicated hotel security system is designed to prevent theft and protect assets.
- Cost vs. Benefit: While it may seem like a good investment to enhance security, the complexity could lead to a decline in customer goodwill. Customers might feel inconvenienced or frustrated by the system, which could result in negative experiences.
- Unintended Consequences: Similar to the screensaver scenario, where the benefit of electricity savings is negated by lost employee productivity, the hotel security system's potential benefits (reduced theft) may be overshadowed by the detriment to customer satisfaction.
Comparison with Other Options
- Option A: Choosing textbooks based on student preference may not save money, but it doesn’t illustrate the principle of unintended consequences effectively.
- Option B: Energy-efficient insulation has a clear long-term benefit and doesn’t highlight a negative consequence.
- Option C: The delivery time of pizza versus cooking does not involve a trade-off between costs and negative outcomes.
- Option E: The comparison between an electronic keyboard and a piano relates to initial vs. ongoing costs, but not to unintended negative consequences impacting overall value.
Conclusion
Thus, option D closely mirrors the principle depicted in the screensaver scenario by demonstrating how a seemingly beneficial investment can lead to greater costs in terms of customer experience and goodwill.
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Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on a computer monitor to prevent damage—can cost a company far more in employee time than it saves in electricity and monitor protection. Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?a)A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.b)An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.c)The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.d)A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.e)An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on a computer monitor to prevent damage—can cost a company far more in employee time than it saves in electricity and monitor protection. Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?a)A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.b)An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.c)The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.d)A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.e)An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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 Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on a computer monitor to prevent damage—can cost a company far more in employee time than it saves in electricity and monitor protection. Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?a)A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.b)An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.c)The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.d)A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.e)An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Buying elaborate screensavers—programs that put moving images on a computer monitor to prevent damage—can cost a company far more in employee time than it saves in electricity and monitor protection. Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?a)A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.b)An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.c)The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.d)A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.e)An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?a)A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.b)An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.c)The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.d)A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.e)An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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Employees cannot resist spending time playing with screensavers that flash interesting graphics across their screens.Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated above?a)A school that chooses textbooks based on student preference may not get the most economical package.b)An energy-efficient insulation system may cost more up front but will ultimately save money over the life of the house.c)The time that it takes to have a pizza delivered may be longer than it takes to cook a complete dinner.d)A complicated hotel security system may cost more in customer goodwill than it saves in losses by theft.e)An electronic keyboard may be cheaper to buy than a piano but more expensive to repair.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
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