Sunday, August 20, 2006
Category: Culture and Values
What is vertical integration? The short answer is controlling everything in a process from the beginning to the end.
I came across this term recently while continuing to read the history of the oil industry, The Prize, in reference to John D. Rockefeller and his plan to control the world oil industry. Rockefeller isn’t credited with using the term but is credited with being the first real world example of using vertical integration on a massive scale.
So I’m thinking about how this can impact our lives. I’m thinking that controlling everything from the top down in one’s own life would lend a sort of ability to reach a satisfactory end. I’m thinking, yes, but we are particles in the breeze, we can’t control anything.
Then I think, no, my contention is that the individual is ultimately responsible for themselves so control is in fact always present. We control our decisions based on conditions we may not control. We can however move to a place where the conditions are right, mentally and physically. This reminds me of holistic management.
Holistic management is a reference to seeing the big picture, acknowledging the big picture, when making decisions. Coined by Allan Savory of Holistic Management International the process simply refers to being aware of all implications before making a decision.
Our ability to make informed decisions affords us vertical integration of our lives.
Now use it.