Make-or-Buy Decisions in International Business
International businesses invariably face decisions about whether they make all or just some of the components used in their final product and therefore buy in from other sources (outsourcing) those components they decide not to make. This make-or-buy decision is related to the degree to which a firm is vertically integrated: that is, the extent to which a firm is its own supplier and market. At one extreme a firm can make all of its own inputs and be its own supplier; at the other extreme, it can buy all its inputs and rely on external suppliers. Partial integration implies that some components are made and others bought. A major benefit of making inputs (backward or upstream integration) is the degree of control maintained over cost, quality and timeliness of delivery. Major drawbacks are the cost of investment and expertise needed to provide these inputs. A benefit of buying is Continue reading