Traditionally, the first firm to commercialize a new
technology has benefited from the unique opportunity to
shape product definitions, forcing followers to adapt to a
standard or invest in an unproven alternative. Today, how-
( 5) ever, the largest payoffs may go to companies that lead in
developing integrated approaches for successful mass
production and distribution.
Producers of the Beta format for videocassette recorders
(VCR’s), for example, were first to develop the VCR com-
(10) mercially in 1975, but producers of the rival VHS (Video
Home System) format proved to be more successful at
forming strategic alliances with other producers and
distributors to manufacture and market their VCR format
Seeking to maintain exclusive control over VCR distri-
(15) bution. Beta producers were reluctant to form such alliances
and eventually lost ground to VHS in the competition
for the global VCR market.
Despite Beta’s substantial technological head start and
the fact that VHS was neither technically better nor cheaper
(20) than Beta, developers of VHS quickly turned a slight early
lead in sales into a dominant position. Strategic alignments
with producers of prerecorded tapes reinforced the VHS
advantage. The perception among consumers that prerecorded
tapes were more available in VHS format further
(25) expanded VHS’s share of the market. By the end of the
1980’s. Beta was no longer in production.
99. The alignment of producers of VHS-format VCR’s with
producers of prerecorded videotapes is most similar to
which of the following?
(A) The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with
another automobile manufacturer to adopt a
standard design for automobile engines.
(B) The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with
an automotive glass company whereby the
manufacturer agrees to purchase automobile
windshields only from that one glass company
(C) The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with a
petroleum company to ensure the widespread
availability of the fuel required by a new type of
engine developed by the manufacturer.
(D) The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with
its dealers to adopt a plan to improve automobile
design.
(E) The alignment of an automobile dealer with an
automobile rental chain to adopt a strategy for an
advertising campaign to promote a new type of
automobile
正确答案是C，偶选了B。OG的解释是The alliances formed by VHS producers with videotape manufacturers created partnerships between companies whose products were mutually interdependent.想请教的是，从文中何处得知VHS和VCR是interdependent 的关系呢？ | 
