The argument that Sigma' consultancy is very successful is based on the unprecedented
performance of Sigma's past five clients. The author tried to convey that Sigma's consulting
helped its clients increasing their business volume. While the line of reasoning is somewhat
persuasive, it committed the Insufficient Sample Fallacy and therefore is logically not sound.
First of all, the argument commits the Insufficient Sample Faulty. The author made conclusion
that its clients achieved the greatest increase in sales by illustrating only five of their clients. It is
possible that the majority of their clients did not experience the mentioned growth of sales. So, the
author should address more clients so as to generate the conclusion for its success of consulting
job.
Second, the author made a wrong comparison. When the arguer tried to prove that their clients
performed better than other companies, he committed an even more serious fallacy by comparing
its current performance with historical performance. Rather, the author should compare its clients'
performance with that of other companies.
Finally, the argument potentially assumed that the consultancy is the only factor that determines
the success of its clients. Actually, it may be other factors that constitute to the success of these
five clients. For example, the board of directors just reappointed a new CEO who has proved
successful in his past years of managing career and possess resourceful experience in this kind
of industry. Without eliminating other factors, the argument is not sound. Moreover, even if Sigma
really proves successful to help its clients in regain wonderful sales history, it does not guarantee
its superiority of solving management problems since management is only one of the functions
that a company daily encounter and a consulting company can help to solve.
In sum, the argument is neither sound nor convincing since it overlooks many possibilities that
must be addressed to strengthen its statement. If it included the items described above, it may be
more strong or persuasive.
The
argument
that Sigma' consultancy is
very
successful
is based
on the unprecedented
performance
of Sigma's past five
clients
. The
author
tried to convey that Sigma's
consulting
helped
its
clients
increasing their business volume.
While
the line of reasoning is
somewhat
persuasive
, it committed the Insufficient Sample Fallacy and
therefore
is
logically
not sound.
First of all
, the
argument
commits the Insufficient Sample Faulty. The
author
made
conclusion
that
its
clients
achieved the greatest increase in sales by illustrating
only
five of their
clients
. It
is
possible
that the majority of their
clients
did not experience the mentioned growth of sales.
So
, the
author should address more
clients
so as to
generate the conclusion for its success of consulting
job
.
Second, the
author
made a
wrong
comparison.
When
the arguer tried to prove that their
clients
performed better than
other
companies
, he committed an even more serious fallacy by comparing
its
current
performance with historical performance.
Rather
, the
author
should compare its clients'
performance
with that of
other
companies
.
Finally
, the
argument
potentially
assumed that the consultancy is the
only
factor that determines
the
success of its
clients
. Actually, it may be
other
factors that constitute to the success of these
five
clients
.
For example
, the board of directors
just
reappointed a new CEO who has
proved
successful in his past years of managing career and possess resourceful experience in this kind
of
industry. Without eliminating
other
factors, the
argument
is not sound.
Moreover
, even if Sigma
really
proves successful to
help
its
clients
in regain wonderful sales history, it does not guarantee
its superiority of solving management problems since management is
only
one of the functions
that
a
company
daily encounter and a consulting
company
can
help
to solve.
In sum, the
argument
is neither sound nor convincing since it overlooks
many
possibilities that
must
be addressed
to strengthen its statement. If it included the items
described
above, it may
be
more
strong or persuasive.