Interdependence implies that each firm in an industry a. must depend on the other firms to maintain consumers' interest in their "mutual" product. b. is independent of one another and are essentially price takers. c. is so large and powerful that they do not need to consider how their actions will affect their rivals. d. is aware that its actions influence the others and that the actions of the other firms affect it.

Garrett is an executive vice president at samm hardware. he researches a proposal by a larger company, maximum hardware, to combine the two companies. by analyzing past performance, conducting focus groups, and interviewing maximum employees, garrett concludes that maximum has poor profit margins, sells shoddy merchandise, and treats customers poorly. what actions should garrett and samm hardware take? a. turn down the acquisition offer and prepare to resist a hostile takeover. b. attempt a friendly merger and use managerial hubris to improve results at maximum. c. welcome the acquisition and use knowledge transfer to impart sam hardware's management practices. d. do nothing; the two companies cannot combine without samm hardware's explicit consent.