The stimulus establishes that an official response is required.

It’s totally understandable to be taken aback by the phrase “if they just complain enough” in the last sentence. It’s weird. But the director isn’t undermining the actual persuasiveness of Ms. Tours’ case there – quite the contrary, they explicitly acknowledge her evidence is compelling and her overall case is justified.

The director’s precise idea is that granting Ms. Tours’ request will make people think they can get raises through “mere complaining,” which could happen whether her case is persuasive or not. Perhaps the complaint review system is confidential, for example, and people on the outside would have no way of knowing Ms. Tours’ complaint was so well-founded.

The stimulus establishes that job performance is in fact a basis for salary increases. Whether it’s a good or suitable basis is indeed a separate issue, but not one that’s relevant to the director’s argument that Ms. Tours’ request should be denied because of its possible negative effects.

Let’s say superior job performance is a suitable basis for salary increases. Cool. The director still thinks Ms. Tours’ request should be denied. Now let’s say superior job performance is not a suitable basis for salary increases. Even better – that’s just another reason to deny Ms. Tours’ request.

(D) attacks the logic of Ms. Tours’ complaint, which is different from attacking the personnel director’s reasoning.

True, the director generally thinks Ms. Tours’ logic is solid. But that’s just a concession. The director’s main conclusion is that Ms. Tours’ request should be denied, so anything suggesting she wasn’t entitled to those merit raises anyway would strengthen the director’s overall position.

Make a note, because this is how the LSAT points to net effect reasoning in Flaw questions: “the author overlooks the possibility that other factors could outweigh the one they mentioned.”

Sure, granting Ms. Tours’ request might have one downside, but if denying her request has even bigger downsides, granting it would be the best play overall.