MGMAT Exam Question (3)

[Guest]

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

The explanation says the answer is B. I agree that the beginning of the sentence modifies "a company's managers" correctly. However, in (B) and in (A), (B),and (C), the pronoun (its) doesn't have an antecedent. Isnt it necessary to clearly state "the company", in the sentence?

thanks very much

[StaceyKoprince]

"its" is a possessive pronoun. Possessive pronouns can refer to possessive nouns, which we have in this sentence: "company's"

Note that possessive pronouns can also refer to regular nouns. Subject and object pronouns cannot, however, refer to possessive nouns.