The phrase "vertical relationship" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to a hierarchical or superior-subordinate relationship in which one person or entity holds a higher position or authority over the other. Example: In a corporate setting, employees have a vertical relationship with their managers, who have the power to give them tasks and evaluate their performance. In this example, "vertical relationship" is used to describe the structure of authority within the company, with managers at the top and employees at the bottom. It conveys the idea that the relationship is one of hierarchy and not necessarily equal.
The vertical relationship between Lindblad and its customers had been too insistent to encourage the forging of horizontal bonds.
Companies are considered to have a vertical relationship when they represent different parts of the same production chain, like a manufacturer and a distributor.
"The main thing of interest is the vertical relationship between Unison as a manufacturer of engine parts and G.E. as a manufacturer of engines".
The mere fact that the No. 1 Internet provider is acquiring the No. 2 cable provider does not raise many red flags because America Online and Time Warner have a fairly classic "vertical" relationship.
Under the so-called Chicago school of antitrust analysis, named for the University of Chicago, which has been in ascendance since the 1970's, mergers between horizontal competitors are likely to get closer scrutiny than are deals by companies with a vertical relationship.
A demonstration shows that when the "vertical" relationship and "horizontal" correlation can be well represented and calculated from historical data, the result estimated by the B-SHADE model is better than results from traditional simple random sampling and ratio estimation.
Unlike the innovation-producing companies, FinCo features vertical relationships.
They are good at vertical relationships with mentors and bosses, but bad at horizontal relationships with friends and lovers.
Three types of vertical relationships have been observed between Mesozoic and Neogene-Recent faults.
The "information environment" refers to the quality of organizational life when the computer mediates jobs and influences both horizontal and vertical relationships.
Frequent and smooth contact across functions, a tradition of working in teams and sharing credit widely, and emphasis on lateral rather than vertical relationships as a source of resources, information, and support.
