Transaction cost theory states that the goal
    of an organization is to minimize the 
    costs of exchanging resources in the 
    environment and the costs of managing 
    exchanges inside the organization. 
Transaction costs are defined as the 
    costs of negotiating, monitoring, and 
    governing exchanges between people
Transaction costs result from a combination 
    of human and environmental factors
Transaction costs result from a combination 
    of human and environmental factors:
    Opportunism and small numbers
    Risk and specific assets
    Specific assets are investments that 
    create value in one relationship, but
    have no value in another relationship.
Transaction costs are low when these         conditions exist:
    Organizations are exchanging                     nonspecific goods and services
    Uncertainty is low
    There are many possible exchange          partners
Transaction costs increase when these  conditions exist:
    Organizations begin to exchange                 nonspecific goods and services
    Uncertainty increases
    The number of possible exchange                  ...