Final answer:
Vertical integration is a method of growth where a company acquires other companies involved in all aspects of a product's lifecycle. An example of vertical integration is John D. Rockefeller's oil company, which acquired businesses in barrel-making, pipelines, tanker cars, and railroads to control the transportation and production of their products.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vertical integration is a method of growth where a company acquires other companies that include all aspects of a product's lifecycle, from the creation of the raw materials through the production process to the delivery of the final product. An example of a company that practices vertical integration is John D. Rockefeller's oil company. Rockefeller acquired companies involved in barrel-making, pipelines, tanker cars, and railroads to control the transportation and production of his oil products. This allowed him to lower prices and dominate the industry.