Based upon a survey among workers that indicates a hgih level of interest in the topics of
corporate restructing and redesign of benefits programs, the author concludes that workers
are not apathetic about managment issues. Specifically, it is argued that since 79 percent of the
1200 workers who responded to survey expressed interest in these topics, the notion that workers are
apathetic about managment issues is incorrect. The reasoning in this argument is problematic in
several respects.
First, the statistics cited in the editorial may be misleading because the total number of workers
employed by the corporation is not specified. For example, if the corporation employs 2000 workers,
the fact that 79 percent of the nearly 1200 respondents showed interest in these topics provides
strong support for the conlusion. On the other hand, if the coporation employs 200,000 workers, the
conclusion is much weaker.
Another problem with the argument is that the respindents' views are not necessarily representative
of the views of the work force in general. For example, because the survey has to do with apathy, it
makes sense that only less apathetic workers would respond to it, thereby distoring the owverall
picture of apathy among the work force. Without knowing how the survery was conducted, it is
impossible to assess wether or not this is the case.
A third problem with the argument is that it makes a hasty gerneralization about the types of
issues workers are interested in. It accordes with common sense that workers would be interested in
corporate restructing and redesign of benefits programs, since these issues affect workers very
directly. However, it is unfair to assume that workers would be similarly interested in other
management issues-ones that do not affect them or affect them less directly.
In conclusion, this argument is not convicing as it stands. To strengthern it, the auhor would have
to show that respondents account for a significant and representative portion of all workers.
Additionally, the author must provide evidence of workers' interest other management topics-not just
those that affect workers directly.