Internal & External Growth
- The growth of firms can be organic (internal) or inorganic (external)
- Organic growth is usually generated by
- Gaining greater market share
- Product diversification
- Opening a new store
- International expansion
- Investing in new technology/production machinery
- Inorganic growth usually takes place when firms merge in one of three ways
- Vertical integration (forward or backwards)
- Horizontal integration
- Conglomerate integration
A diagram that illustrates how a firm can grow through forward or backward vertical integration
- Forward vertical integration involves a merger or takeover with a firm further forward in the supply chain
- E.g. A dairy farmer merges with an ice-cream manufacturer
- E.g. A dairy farmer merges with an ice-cream manufacturer
- Backward vertical integration involves a merger/takeover with a firm further backward in the supply chain
- E.g. An ice-cream retailer takes over an ice-cream manufacturer
- E.g. An ice-cream retailer takes over an ice-cream manufacturer