Final answer:
In the context of business, a partner and a customer can be mutually exclusive roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of business, a partner and a customer can be mutually exclusive roles.
A partner is typically an individual or entity that enters into a business partnership with another party to jointly operate and share profits. Partners are actively involved in decision-making and have ownership stake in the business.
On the other hand, a customer is someone who purchases goods or services from a business. Customers do not typically have any ownership stake or decision-making authority in the business.
Therefore, a partner cannot also be a customer in the same transaction or business relationship. However, a person or entity can play the role of a partner in one business and a customer in a different business or transaction.