Afurniture company in the united states works with a plant in india to make wooden desks. the u. s. company designs the desks, and the manufacturer in india makes, assembles, and paints them. these desks are then shipped to the u. s. customers by a shipping company from taiwan to the sea port in los angeles. each step along the way is monitored by software that each of the companies use to communicate with each other. the way this furniture company conducts business is an example of the term known as