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The amount of time it takes for most of a worker's occupational knowledge and skills to become obsolete has been declining because of the introduction of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). Given the rate at which AMT is currently being introduced in manufacturing, the average worker's old skills become obsolete and new skills are required within as little as five years.
Which of the following plans, if feasible, would allow a company to prepare most effectively for the rapid obsolescence of skills described above?
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| The amount of time it takes for most of a worker's occupational knowledge and skills to become obsolete has been declining because of the introduction of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). |
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| Given the rate at which AMT is currently being introduced in manufacturing, the average worker's old skills become obsolete and new skills are required within as little as five years. |
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The argument moves from a general trend (technology making skills obsolete faster) to a specific timeline (5 years). It establishes the problem but doesn't provide a solution - that's what we need to find in the answer choices.
There isn't a traditional conclusion here - this is actually just problem setup. The passage presents the challenge that worker skills become obsolete within 5 years due to advancing manufacturing technology.
This is a problem-description structure rather than a typical argument. Premise 1 (technology causes faster obsolescence) + Premise 2 (current rate specifics) = Problem definition that the question asks us to solve.
Strengthen - We need to find information that would make the conclusion more believable or support the argument's reasoning
The argument makes specific quantitative claims (5-year skill obsolescence cycle) and causal claims (AMT causes faster skill obsolescence). The question asks for plans that would help companies prepare for this rapid skill obsolescence
Since this is a strengthen question asking for effective company plans, we need to think of strategies that would logically help companies deal with the 5-year skill obsolescence cycle caused by AMT. We should look for plans that either: (1) help workers adapt to rapid skill changes, (2) reduce the impact of skill obsolescence, or (3) anticipate and prepare for future technology changes
This choice suggests offering training opportunities six years after employees are hired. However, the passage tells us that skills become obsolete within five years due to AMT. Training people after six years means we're already too late - their skills would have become obsolete a year earlier. This timing mismatch makes this plan ineffective for addressing the rapid obsolescence problem.
Increasing investment in AMT every year would actually worsen the problem described in the passage. The argument states that AMT introduction is what causes skills to become obsolete faster. More AMT means even more rapid skill obsolescence, so this plan works against solving the core issue rather than helping employees adapt to it.
Periodically surveying employees about how AMT has affected them is reactive rather than proactive. While surveys might provide useful information, they don't actually help prepare for or prevent skill obsolescence. By the time we survey and analyze the effects, the damage is already done. This approach gathers data but doesn't solve the fundamental problem.
Informing employees about the probable consequences of AMT introduction before it happens is educational but doesn't provide practical preparation. Knowing that your skills will become obsolete doesn't actually help you develop new skills or stay current with changing technology. Awareness alone isn't sufficient preparation for the challenge described.
This choice provides the most comprehensive solution by ensuring the company can offer any necessary training to meet changing job requirements. Since skills become obsolete every five years due to advancing technology, employees will continuously need new training. This plan directly addresses the core problem by providing ongoing skill development as technology evolves, making it the most effective preparation strategy.