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Impact of Vertical Integration

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Submitted By eluke
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Impact of Vertical Integration

Table of Contents
What is Vertical Integration?3
De Beers Summary3
Internal strengths of vertical integration5
External strengths of vertical integration6
Disadvantages of vertical integration7
Quad/Graphics and vertical integration7
Four types of Vertical Integration 7
Ownership and Breadth of De Beers 9
Conclusion 10
References11

What is Vertical Integration?
Vertical integration is a powerful corporate strategy that when implemented under the right circumstances can work towards the organizations advantage. Vertical integration describes a firm's control over several or all of the production and or distribution steps involved in the creation of its product or service. This integration takes the assets that was owned by two organizations and combines it into a single business; this creates either a joint ownership, or the sale of one firm’s assets to another business. This strategy is more advantageous then contracting with an outside company since usually it creates lower operating costs and more control over quality of its products or services. Forward and backward integration in an organizations’ value chain is an attempt to strengthen a company’s business model. Although there are different forms of vertical integration, its main approach is either to expand operations backward into an industry that produces inputs for the company, or forward into an industry that distributes the company’s products. According to Harrigan (1983/2003), “Vertical integration can vary in breadth, stages, degree, and form” (p. 2). Different vertical integration strategies work well under different conditions, and different contingencies should be considered before deploying a vertical integration strategy. In this paper, I will explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of vertical integration, the different dimensions of

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