Categories: The circle graphs show the number of employees in each of Company Z's five employee categories at the beginning...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
Categories: The circle graphs show the number of employees in each of Company Z's five employee categories at the beginning and end of a 12-month period. Each employee was in exactly one of the categories, and no employee moved from any category to any other.
Departures: During the same 12-month period, 145 employees left Company Z. None of those who left returned to Company Z.
Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.
Owning the Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Dataset Illustration | The circle graphs show the number of employees in each of Company Z's five employee categories at the beginning and end of a 12-month period. | Pie charts display employee counts by category at start and end of year. |
| Exclusivity | Each employee was in exactly one of the categories. | No employee holds more than one role/category. |
| No Transfers | No employee moved from any category to any other. | Employees stayed in the same category all year. |
| Departures | During the same 12-month period, 145 employees left Company Z. | 145 employees left during the year. |
| No Returns | None of those who left returned to Company Z. | Employees who left did not return. |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Feature | Chart Data | Observed Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Timeframe | Beginning of Month 1 vs End of Month 12 | Comparison captures a 12-month span. |
| Five Categories | Executive Leadership, Clerical, Production, Maintenance, Operations | Workforce is grouped into five exclusive categories. |
| Headcount by Category | Exec: \(68 \rightarrow 68\); Clerical: \(135 \rightarrow 200\); Production: \(674 \rightarrow 674\); Maintenance: \(21 \rightarrow 21\); Operations: \(158 \rightarrow 160\) | Only Clerical and Operations increased; rest are unchanged. |
| Total Employees | \(1,056\) (start), \(1,123\) (end) | Net gain of 67 employees over the year (\(1,123 - 1,056\)). |
| Proportional Shifts | Production remains biggest; Clerical grows visibly; Exec. Leadership percent shrinks | Relative departmental share changes due to hiring patterns. |
Key Insights
- 212 new employees joined Company Z (145 departures + 67 net gain)
- Executive Leadership's share of employees decreased slightly because their count stayed constant as total workforce grew
- Most hiring was in the Clerical department, which saw nearly 50% growth
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Number of New Employees
Complete Statement:
[Blank 1] new employees joined the company during the 12-month period
Breaking Down the Statement
Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: new employees joined
- Meaning: Refers to the total number of employees that were hired during the given time period.
- Relation to Chart: This requires looking at the overall changes in headcount and accounting for people who left.
- Important Implications: We cannot simply compare the start and end employee counts; we must also factor in departures.
Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: during the 12-month period
- Meaning: The entire period covered by the data is one year.
- Relation to Chart: Changes reflected in the pie charts are over this time frame.
- Important Implications: All hiring and departures within these months must be considered.
What is needed: The total number of new hires during the year, which includes replacing those who left and providing for any net increase.
Solution:
Condensed Solution Implementation:
Use the net change in total employees and the number of departures to determine total new hires.
Necessary Data points:
Employees at start: 1,056. Employees at end: 1,123. Employees who left during the period: 145.
Calculations Estimations:
Net gain = \(1,123 - 1,056 = 67\). Since 145 left but the company still gained 67 employees, new employees hired = \(145 + 67 = 212\) (replacements + net gain).
Comparison to Answer Choices:
212 is more than 100, so the correct answer is 'More than 100.'
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: More than 100
Question 2: Change in Executive Leadership Percentage
Complete Statement:
the percentage of Company Z employees who were in the executive leadership category [Blank 2] during that period
Breaking Down the Statement
Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: percentage of executive leadership
- Meaning: Proportion of all employees that are in the executive leadership group.
- Relation to Chart: Compare the number of executive leaders to the total number of employees at both time points.
Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: during that period
- Meaning: Between the beginning and end of one year.
- Relation to Chart: Percentage change is assessed between the two charts.
What is needed: Did the percentage of executive leadership rise, fall, or stay the same?
Solution:
Condensed Solution Implementation:
See if executive count changed, and analyze the fraction as the total workforce changed.
Necessary Data points:
Executive leadership: 68 at start and end. Total employees: 1,056 (start), 1,123 (end).
Calculations Estimations:
Fraction at start: \(68/1,056 \approx 6.4\%\). Fraction at end: \(68/1,123 \approx 6.1\%\). The number of executives stayed the same while total increased, so percentage went down.
Comparison to Answer Choices:
Since the percentage decreased, the correct answer is 'decreased.'
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: decreased
Summary
By adding the departures to the net increase, we see Company Z brought in more than 100 new employees. Executive leadership stayed the same in number but became a smaller proportion as headcount went up, so their percentage decreased.
Question Independence Analysis
The two blanks are independent. The first is about new hires versus loss and growth; the second is about relative representation of a group unaffected by turnover in other positions.