Which of the following, if true, weakens the production line manager's argument?

A) The primary factor the company uses to evaluate its success is the productivity of the workforce.
B) The productivity measurements mentioned by the production line manager include quality standards as well as quantitative requirements.
C) The connection between job satisfaction and performance is especially strong in the service industry.
D) If management does not believe that job satisfaction and productivity are related, it is unlikely to attempt to address the issue.
E) Dissatisfied employees are more likely to steal work supplies that are needed for the production line to function.

Answer: E
Explanation: E) Productivity isn't everything. A company also needs to consider the likelihood that the workers will engage in deviant behavior such as stealing or even worse. So Choice E, if true, weakens the product line manager's argument by suggesting that dissatisfied workers might steal needed equipment. If they do that, then everyone will be equally unproductive. Choice A, if anything, strengthens the argument by putting the focus solely on productivity. Choice B makes the standards sound better. If they hadn't included quality standards, then that would be an argument against them. But they do, so Choice B strengthens the argument. Choice C doesn't matter because working on a production line isn't part of the service industry. Choice D suggests that management won't act if the product line manager is correct. But if the product line manager is correct, why should they act? There are some arguments to be made, but Choice D isn't one of them.