A Dutch-French comparison of dependence, trust and commitment in buyer-supplier relationships: a purchasing portfolio approach

Mirjam I. Kibbeling, Cees J. Gelderman, Jan M. Ulijn, Arjan J. Van Weele and Richard Calvi

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2009, vol. 3, issue 4, 353-373

Abstract: National culture is likely to affect trust, commitment and dependence in buyer-supplier relationships. Yet, empirical research on buyer-supplier relationships in different cultural settings is still limited. This article presents the findings of an exploratory study into the role of culture in different types of buyer-supplier relationships. Hypotheses have been tested, using data from a survey among 84 French purchasing professionals and data gathered before in the Netherlands with 216 colleagues. A comparative analysis revealed that the cultural background of purchasers does affect their perceptions of trust, commitment and dependence in supplier relationships. French purchasers demonstrate lower levels of (affective) commitment, competence trust and goodwill trust towards their suppliers, compared to their Dutch colleagues. These findings are inconsistent to what French-Dutch intercultural studies suggest. Focus group discussions indicate that Professional Culture might be more important than National Culture for the explanation of differences in buyer-supplier relationships.

Keywords: buyer–supplier relationships; commitment; dependence; intercultural management; purchasing management; portfolio management; trust; The Netherlands; France; national culture; supplier relationships; competence; professional culture; organisational culture. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijbglo:v:3:y:2009:i:4:p:353-373

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