The Use of Intermediate Sourcing Strategies
研究制造企业使用中间采购策略（如锥形整合和长期供应商关系）的频率，发现这些策略比垂直整合和竞争性现货竞价更常用，且策略选择因行业而异。
SUMMARY Much of the existing literature discusses vertical integration and competitive spot bidding as sourcing strategy choices, but often neglects intermediate sourcing strategies, such as taper integration and long‐term supplier relationships. This exploratory study examines the extent to which firms use intermediate sourcing strategies, as opposed to the polar strategies, and attempts to improve our understanding of the sourcing choices available to manufacturing firms. Results from a sample of 209 plant managers indicate that firms use taper integration and long‐term supplier relationships more frequently than vertical integration and competitive spot bidding. Further, the choice of a sourcing strategy was found to be dependent on the industry.