Interorganizational Dependence and Forward Integration
研究了业务单元因客户依赖和环境动荡而进行前向一体化的倾向，发现客户依赖是重要预测因素，且不同制造业部门的一体化动机存在差异。
This paper considers a business unit's propensity to forward integration in response to dependence on customers and turbulence of the environment. The analysis seeks to determine whether vertical integration patterns differ between three manufacturing sectors: consumer products, capital goods, and industrial supplies and components. The results suggest that customer dependence variables are important predictors of forward integration, while aspects of turbulence are not as important. The results also indicate various differences across the three sectors, suggesting that the motivation for forward integration varies with sector. The implications of the findings are discussed.