It's possible (and would generally be considered acceptable) to say "the plans outlined a strategy..." Technically, the active voice would make more sense: the strategy is outlined (by someone) in the plan. Inanimate objects such as "plans" cannot really perform active verbs. However, conventional usage allows the active voice in these situations (there is an example in this very sentence!).Outlining his strategy for nursing the troubled conglomerate back to health, the chief executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months.
(A) executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months
(B) executive's plans, which are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months, were announced on Wednesday
(C) executive's plans for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months were announced on Wednesday
(D) executive announced plans Wednesday to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months
(E) executive announced plans Wednesday that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months
The GMAT will usually use the passive voice - or switch the subject altogether - in these cases, though.
Another issue is that when there is a pronoun in an opening modifier (in this case "his"), the SUBJECT that comes directly after the modifier should be the noun that this pronoun is replacing. If the sentence begins "outlining his strategy, ________..." the subject must be a person.
