optimization techniques MGMATprep test

[SmarpanGamt]

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 [b]its [/b]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

Please explain choice B and E.

OA B

[shovan85]

IMO B

In option E "these products" is used whereas there is no previous mentions of any products in the sentence. The usage of "These" is not correct.

"in both the short and long term" the omission of second the before long term violates the parallelism.

In B the usage ITS seems ambiguous. But feels better to E as E has definite two errors.

[GMATGuruNY]

IMO B

In option E "these products" is used whereas there is no previous mentions of any products in the sentence. The usage of "These" is not correct.

"in both the short and long term" the omission of second the before long term violates the parallelism.

In B the usage ITS seems ambiguous. But feels better to E as E has definite two errors.

B: a company's managers...can determine...in order to meet its goals...
Here, its (possessive pronoun) serves to refer to company's (a preceding possessive).
A possessive pronoun can serve to refer to another possessive construction.

E: managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of these products
To which set of products does the phrase in red refer?
Since the referent is unclear, eliminate E.

[SmarpanGamt]

Thanks @ GMATGuruNY

I had a doubt on this point. But now it is clear.

[Mo2men]

In B, the pronoun its refers to the possessive construction company's. A possessive pronoun can be used to refer to another possessive construction:
...a company's managers...can determine...in order to meet its goals...

Dear Mitch,

1- Can you please shed light about 'a company's manager'? How 'a' describes company's (in possessive form)? If we have 'a NOUN's NOUN ', can under any cases 'a/an' describe the NOUNn in Blue?

2- Does choice E have any flaws beside 'these products'??

Thanks for your support

[GMATGuruNY]

Dear Mitch,

1- Can you please shed light about 'a company's manager'? How 'a' describes company's (in possessive form)? If we have 'a NOUN's NOUN ', can under any cases 'a/an' describe the NOUNn in Blue?

the crust of a planet = a planet's crust.
the roof of a building = a building's roof.
the manager of a company = a company's manager.
In each case, the phrase in green conveys the same meaning as its counterpart in blue.

2- Does choice E have any flaws beside 'these products'??

both X and Y must serve to connect PARALLEL FORMS.
E: in both the short and long term
Here, the portions in red lack parallelism.
Better: in both the short and THE long term
An OA with a similar construction:
a list of animals that exhibit a preference for using either the right or THE left hand.