Based upon a survey among workers that indicates a high level of interest in the
topics of corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs, the author
concludes that workers are not apathetic about management 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 management 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 conclusion.
On the other hand, if the corporation employs 200,000 workers, the conclusion is much
weaker.
Another problem with the argument is that the respondents' 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 distorting the overall picture of apathy among the work
force. Without knowing how the survey was conducted, it is impossible to assess
whether or not this is the case.
A third problem with the argument is that it makes a hasty generalization about
the types of issues workers are interested in. It accords with common sense that workers
would be interested in corporate restructuring 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 convincing as it stands. To strengthen it, the
author would have to show that the 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.