Review the following terms and concepts discussed this week to prepare for this assignment:

• vertical integration
• taper integration
• backward vertical integration
• forward vertical integration
• strategic alliances
• global strategy
• international strategy
• innovation

Create a Word doc and title it Strategic Management Research Journal Part 4.

Write a 525- to 700-word response to the following prompts in your journal entry:

1. Identify Caterpillar Inc.’s short-term and long-term goals.
2. Evaluate how mergers and acquisitions in the last 3-5 years have contributed to Caterpillar Inc.’s performance and affected its organizational goals. 
3. Determine the most critical merger or acquisition that has contributed to Caterpillar’s performance and success in achieving organizational goals. Defend your choice.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of Caterpillar’s operational plan for global strategies (international, multi-domestic, global-standardization, or transnational). Include supporting research or data.

Note: You will use information from this entry in your presentation due in Week 5.