Optimization Techniques

[skumar94]

By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms.

A.it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
B.a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals
C.it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
D.it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals
E.managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long term

Answer as per the OA is B.However I feel that the pronoun its used in the second clause does not have a clear referent.In the MGMAT Flash cards there is a problem,Q 24/54..Mr Vega's mother...the soln (Pg 50)states that if the Mr Vegas appears as part of the possesive clause we cannot refer to him as the pronoun. In the example above company appears in the possesive form so, pronoun its is without a clear antecedent.

[jnelson0612]

By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms.

A.it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
B.a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals
C.it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
D.it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals
E.managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long term

Answer as per the OA is B.However I feel that the pronoun its used in the second clause does not have a clear referent.In the MGMAT Flash cards there is a problem,Q 24/54..Mr Vega's mother...the soln (Pg 50)states that if the Mr Vegas appears as part of the possesive clause we cannot refer to him as the pronoun. In the example above company appears in the possesive form so, pronoun its is without a clear antecedent.

Actually, "its" is a possessive pronoun and it is taking the place of a possessive. For example:
The cat's paws are white and its eyes are green.

In this case, "its" refers back to the possessive "cat's". Thus, in this case, "its" is correctly referring to "company's".