Baker-Perez Engineering specializes in microelectronics. The company has traditionally focused on printed circuit board designs, but is hoping to expand into sensor networks and embedded systems. Baker-Perez is cutting its staff of engineers by 10 percent. To ensure that the company’s ability to produce high-quality products is impacted as little as possible by the staff cuts, consultants recommend that Baker-Perez lay off the most recent hires, who are the least familiar with the company’s products.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt upon the consultants’ rationale for selecting staff to lay off?