A joint venture is defined as?

• A. A partnership in which two or more companies join to undertake a major project.
• B. A merger of two firms into a single entity.
• C. A temporary alliance with a government entity.
• D. A long-term exclusive distribution agreement.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is what a joint venture actually is: two or more independent companies come together to undertake a specific major project, often forming a separate arrangement to share ownership, control, risks, and profits for that venture. This setup preserves each company’s separate identity while creating a shared entity or collaborative framework focused on a defined objective and timeframe.

This best fits A because it captures the collaborative, project-specific nature of a joint venture. A merger would combine the firms into one new entity, with no remaining separate entities. A temporary alliance with a government entity describes more of a short-term or public partnership rather than a separate venture formed for a specific project. A long-term exclusive distribution agreement is a contract for product distribution, not a joint venture with shared ownership and governance.