If Goals is given on the first day of the sales training conference, then which one of the following could be true?

Madelyn-Luskey on June 5, 2018

explanation

can you all post an explanation for the remaining questions for this game?

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Christopher on June 5, 2018

@Madelyn-Luskey

This is a multi-linear game, so you're keeping track of two sets of objects (in this case long and short seminars) and their relation to each other. A big part of getting these right is setting up the game correctly. This is how I'd lay it out.

_ _ _ _ _ _
1 2 3

Then start plotting rules:

1. One short, one long. You don't know the order, but you can quickly evaluate potential answers by checking if they ever list two shorts or two longs together.
2. Telemarketing comes after Goals and Objections. This means the earliest slot that's available is the second slot on the second day. (I'll write the letters that are impossible for a slot under as I can't seem to cross them out.)
_ _ _ _ _ _
1 2 3
T T T O
G

3. Negotiation comes after Persuasion so:
_ _ _ _ _ _
1 2 3
T T T O
N G
P

One thing that you can deduct without having a specific rule is that the final time slot must be either N or T. Since T must come after two short seminars and N must come after one, it is possible to have N in slot 1b, but if that is the case O and G must be in day 2 and 3 pushing T to 3b. So, the final setup before getting to questions is:
_ _ _ _ _ N/T
1 2 3
T T T O
N G
P
With that done, we can go to question 1.

1.) asks which is an accurate schedule. Look for easy rules first. Do they list any shorts with shorts or longs with longs. That knocks out (D). Then look at other features that are easy to identify, for instance, do any of them list Humor in the final spot? That knocks out (A) and (D) again. Then any that list Telemarketing before Goals or Objections? That knocks out (E). Then any that list Negotiating before Persuasion? That knocks out (C). That leaves (B) as the only right answer. Write that under your scenario like this:
_ _ _ _ _ _
1 2 3
T T T O
N G
P
ON GT PN

And move on.

2.) Adds the condition that Goals be given the first day and asks which "could be true." Go through the same rules again. Rule 1? Knocks out (B) and (C). Rule 2? Telemarketing could happen on day 2 if Objections is first on day 2, so (E) looks possible. Rule 3? Knocks out (As) and (D). (A) for obvious reasons but (D) because Negotiating and Telemarketing cannot be on day 1, so Humor must be. So the answer is (E). Add that information to the scenario.
_ _ _ _ _ _
1 2 3
T T T O
N G
P
ON GT PN
GH OT PN
HG OT PN

3.) If Negotiation comes before Objections, what "must be true?" This one hinges on rule 3, since Persuasion must come before Negotiation, putting Negotiation before Objections means that Persuasion MUST come before Objections as well.

4.) Which cannot be the second seminar on the second day? This will require writing out a few scenarios. (A) works as you can have PN O/GH O/GT. (C) and (E) work because you can easily do HO/G in the same scenario. (D) works because you can do O/GH PN O/GT. That leaves (B). If you put Persuasion in 2b, then Telemarketing must go in 3, which forces Negotiation to be ahead of Persuasion. So add the workable scenarios to your graph and move on.

_ _ _ _ _ _
1 2 3
T T T O
N G
P
ON GT PN
GH OT PN
HG OT PN
PN O/GH O/GT
O/GH PN O/GT

5.) If Humor is day 2, which could be true? Look at your listed scenarios to see if you have any with Humor on day 2, and you have PN O/GH O/GT. Looking quickly at the options, you can see that (D) works.

And you're done!

Hope that helps.

Anna20 on July 22, 2020

For question 14, why can't Telemarketing be the second seminar on day 2 (with Objections being the first seminar on day 2)? That's the reason I've struggled with eliminating D and choosing E.

Thanks for the above, very helpful.

shunhe on August 4, 2020

Hi @Anna2020,

Thanks for the question! The correct answer choice to that question should be (E), in other words, Telemarketing can be the second seminar on day 2. Remember, this question is asking us what “could be true.” So (E) is something that, as you said, could be true, which is why it’s the correct answer. Humor and Goals would go on the first day, and then Telemarketing/Objections could go on either day 2 or 3, with Negotiating/Persuasion going on the other day. All the other choices are impossible, since day 1 has to be goals with humor (knocking out answer choices (A), (B), and (C), and (D)).

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions that you might have.