Question

A potato chip manufacturer purchases a potato farm. Which of the following regarding its strategy is true? The manufacturer has effectively reduced its operating costs by outsourcing its activities. The manufacturer has enhanced utilization by allowing depreciation and other fixed costs to be spread over a larger unit volume.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is letter "C": The manufacturer has effectively used vertical integration to increase its bargaining position and reduce transaction costs.

Explanation:

Vertical integration occurs when a company purchases and controls other companies along its supply chain. There are two types of vertical integration: backward and forward. In the context of backward vertical integration, a company such as a manufacturer owns companies that supply inputs to manufacturing processes. A corporation owns another business in forward vertical integration, to get closer to the ultimate customer in the supply chain.

Therefore, a potato chip manufacturer by buying a potato farm is engaging in backward vertical integration.

Answer 2

Question:

A potato chip manufacturer purchases a potato farm. Which of the following regarding its strategy is true?

A. The manufacturer has effectively used vertical integration to increase its bargaining position and reduce transaction costs.

B. The manufacturer has enhanced utilisation by allowing depreciation and other fixed costs to be spread over a larger unit volume.

C. The manufacturer has sacrificed quality by using a lower-cost input.

D. The manufacturer has efficiently capitalised on the experience and learning-curve effects within the company.

E. The manufacturer has effectively reduced its operating costs by outsourcing its activities.

Answer:

A. the Manufacturer has effectively used vertical integration to increase it's bargaining position and reduce transaction costs.

Explanation:

Vertical integration is a business strategy whereby a business acquires ownership or controls its suppliers, distributors, or retail locations to control its value or supply chain.

It may also be said that vertical integration has to do with the purchase of a part of all of the production or sales process that was previously outsourced, to have it done in-house.

An example of companies who have done this are:

1. Apple

2. Netflix

3. Comcast (Which acquired NBC)

Businesses can integrate by

• purchasing their suppliers to reduce the costs of manufacturing or
• controlling the distribution process that is, owning and controlling the warehousing and delivery of their products etc.