Merrill Lynch and Thompson Financial Had a Three-Year, $1 Billion

question 113

Multiple Choice

Merrill Lynch and Thompson Financial had a three-year, $1 billion project that put workstations on the desks of 25,000 of Merrill Lynch's brokers. These machines put the world of investing information at brokers' fingertips. Thompson, the supplier, was obliged to not only deliver technology and services on time and on budget, but also constantly improve customer-satisfaction levels among Merrill Lynch's brokers and customers. This is an example of

• A) a reciprocity agreement.
• B) exclusive dealing.
• C) supplier alliance.
• D) a buyer-seller relationship.
• E) a tying arrangement.

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Definitions:

Stigmatization

The act of attaching negative labels or stereotypes to individuals or groups, leading to discrimination or social exclusion.

Deviant

an individual whose behavior diverges from the accepted standards of society, which can invoke negative or positive responses.

Legalization

The process of making something legal, which was previously illegal or regulated under law.

Crime Rates

The number of reported crimes within a given population and time period, often used as an indicator of the level of criminal activity.