LSAT Explanation PT 37, S2, Q1: Company president: Grievance procedures should allow

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to justify the company president's criticism of the human resources department's proposal? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The company president is discussing grievance procedures and the potential benefits of mediation. The president's conclusion is that beginning mediation fairly late in the process, as proposed by the human resources department, would be relatively ineffective. This is a conclusion because it is the main point the president wants to convey. The premise supporting the conclusion is that grievances are costly, and mediation could help resolve many of them.

To better understand the argument, let's consider a simple example. Imagine two neighbors have a disagreement over the placement of a fence. The longer they argue, the more entrenched they become in their positions. If a mediator were to step in early, there might be a better chance of finding a compromise. However, if the mediator steps in late, after both neighbors have become more stubborn, the mediation might be less effective.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Does the effectiveness of mediation decrease as a dispute progresses?"

The question type for this problem is Strengthen, which means we need to find the answer choice that most helps to justify the company president's criticism of the human resources department's proposal.

a) This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the grievant's resistance to listening to a mediator, which is not relevant to the argument about the timing of mediation.

b) This answer choice is incorrect because it discusses the resolution of disagreements without a mediator, which is not relevant to the argument about the effectiveness of mediation when it begins late in the process.

c) This is the correct answer. It strengthens the company president's argument by providing a reason why beginning mediation late in the process would be less effective: adversaries' positions tend to harden as a dispute wears on, making compromise less likely.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the respondents' authority, which is not relevant to the argument about the timing of mediation.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because it discusses the cost of the mediation process compared to the current grievance procedures. While it might suggest that mediation is not more cost-effective, it does not address the effectiveness of mediation when it begins late in the process, which is the focus of the company president's argument.

In summary, answer choice C strengthens the company president's argument by providing a reason why beginning mediation late in the process would be less effective, making it the correct answer.