GM typically solicits bids from global suppliers to produce a particular component and awards a 1-year contract to the supplier that submits the lowest bid. At the end of the year, a contract is once againput out for competitive bid, and once again the lowest cost supplier is most likely to win the bid. GM is using which of the following?
a. Strategic outsourcing
b. Competitive bidding
c. Long-term contracting
d. Strategic alliance
e. Hostage taking