Final answer:
Linda is influenced by confirmation bias(option d), as she favors information that confirms her existing management beliefs and ignores contrary advice from an HR professional.
Step-by-step explanation:
Linda, the manager of a boutique who rejects the HR professional's advice and insists on using her original management methods, is exemplifying a cognitive bias known as confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is a tendency to favor information that aligns with one's existing beliefs and opinions, disregarding or minimizing evidence to the contrary.
It occurs when an individual focuses on the details that validate their preconceptions and disregards those that challenge them. In this case, Linda's refusal to consider alternative management strategies suggested by an HR professional reinforces her existing managerial approach, which makes her susceptible to overlook potentially valuable feedback and perspectives that could benefit her struggling boutique.