Relational Adaptation in Buyer-Supplier Relationship Management: A Synthesis of Effects of Exchange Hazards, Relational Norms, and Legitimacy

S. Sheng, Y. Bao, L. Lessassy (), K. H. Lai, T. Leung and Christina Wong
Additional contact information
S. Sheng: School of Business - Adelphi University
Y. Bao: College of Business Administration - POLYU - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Hong Kong]
L. Lessassy: CERAG - Centre d'études et de recherches appliquées à la gestion - UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2
K. H. Lai: Depatment of logistics and maritime studies - POLYU - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Hong Kong]
T. Leung: Department of Management and Marketing - POLYU - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Hong Kong]
Christina Wong: Institute of Textiles and Clothing - POLYU - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Hong Kong]

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Abstract: Purpose - This paper aims to advance buyer-supplier relationship management research by integrating transaction cost economics, social exchange theory, and institutional theory. The specific purpose is to identify the determinants of relational adaptation in the service relationship. Design/methodology/approach - This study used a field survey to collect data. It used structural equation modeling for data analyses. It collected data from the population of supplier organizations of a focal firm, which is an international container port terminal operator. Findings - We find that that transaction specific investment, business uncertainty, trust, and social respect are positively related to a supplier's relational adaptation. Research limitations/implications - this research provides a synthesis of effects of exchange hazards, relational norms, and legitimacy to explain a supplier's adaptation behaviors. Practical implications - Our study has several managerial implications that are helpful for firms to elicit adaptation from their partner firms. First, specific investment can be useful to serve as an interfirm governance mechanism to attain relational adaptation. Second, the development of trust and social respect in customer relationship is important for firms to attain relational adaptation. Originality/value - The novelty of this paper lies in an integrative synthesis of transaction cost economics, social exchange theory, and institutional theory. Based on three different mechanisms, we provide a holistic explanation for relational adaptation behaviors in buy-supplier relationship.

Keywords: relational adaptation; buyer-supplier relationship; transaction specific investment; business uncertainty; trust; social respect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00660291v1
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Published in 2011, 22 p

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