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Argument 117
The following is a memo from the business manager of Valu-Mart stores.
“ Over 70 percent of the respondents to a recent survey reported that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past, since Valu-Mart has not seen impressive sales in the office-supply departments in the past, we should take advantage of this work-at-home trend by increasing at all Valu-Mart stores the stock of home office machines such as printers, small copy machines, paper shredders, and fax machines. We will also increase stock of office suppliers such as paper, pens, and staplers. With these changes, our office-supply department will become the most profitable component of our stores.”
In the memo, the business manager of Valu-Mart stores recommend that they should take advantage of the work-at-home trend by increasing at all Valu-Mart stores the stock of home office machines and office suppliers. And he claims that with these changes, their office-supply department will become the most profitable component of the stores. To support his argument, he cites a recent survey and refers it as foundation of his argument. However, there are some logical flaws in it. I will explain them in the coming paragraphs.
To begin with, he mentions a recently reported survey which indicates that over 70 percent of the respondents are required to take more work home with them from workplace than they were in the past. Nevertheless, the survey is first open to be doubted. The manager doesn’t points out the authority and auccenity of the survey. For instance, he doesn’t show us that who do the survey, how they collect the data, and so forth. In addition, he also fails to indicate that how many respondents participated in the survey and whether they are from all walks of life. To my certain knowledge, if only minority of people participated in the survey or if they are from some special occupation, the survey cannot represent the general situation and will be invalid.
Even if assuming that the survey is done correctly. Over 70 percent of the respondents are required to take more work to home than before but it doesn’t mean they will use home office machines and office suppliers such as printers, small copy machines, paper shredders, fax machines, paper, pens and so on. It is entirely possible that they only need laptops with them home. Even though they would like to use these kinds of machines, it doesn’t represent that they will buy these machines from Valu-Mart store. .
Finally, there is no clearly statistical evidence showing the office-supply department will earn profits. So the manager cannot make a hasty conclusion that the office-supply department will make profits let alone to be the most profitable component of the stores.
All in all, the manager assumption is unsubstantiated and unconvincing. To convince us, he must provide more accurate information. (1) The authority and auccenity of the survey. (2) most of the people who are required to take work home are willing to use home office machines and buy them in Valu-Mart stores. (3) why will they make profits and become the most profitable components of their stores. |
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