Question

TerraLoc competes in the market for global positioning devices and services. The company manufactures its own GPS units, which are smaller than those of any other competitor and include a proprietary battery that lasts 200% longer than any other competitor's battery and that TerraLoc manufacturers on-site. TerraLoc also has developed proprietary software that is much faster and more precise than that of any competitor. When developing the proprietary battery, TerraLoc decided to manufacturer the battery in-house to reduce the possibility that the company it outsourced the battery manufacturing to might reverse engineer the battery and sell a similar product to competitors. This possibility was especially troubling given that the company expected a significant increase in demand due to the improved battery life. Additionally, TerraLoc sells its products and services through its own direct sales force to ensure that its representatives highlight the longer battery life of TerraLoc's units.

TerraLoc's decsion to manufacture the battery in-house is most consistent with which theory(s) of vertical integration?

a. Firm capability-based explanations
b. Alliance-based explanation
c. Opportunism-based explanations
d. Flexibility-based explanations

Answer 1

The correct answer is the option A: firm capability-based explanations.

Step-by-step explanation:

To begin with, given the fact that the company decided to manufactured the battery in-house in order to reduce the possibility of helping other competitors when using an outsourced manufacturer then the company is using its firm capability in order to achieve the goal of manufacturing that component of the final product. Therefore that if the company would not have the resources and capability of doing it then it would necessary outsourced the manufactured of it.