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Supplier dependence: impact on supplier's participation and performance

Amelia S. Carr (Department of Management, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA)
Hale Kaynak (Department of Management, Marketing, and International Business, College of Business, The University of Texas Pan‐American, Edinburg, Texas, USA)
Janet L. Hartley (Department of Management, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA)
Anthony Ross (Department Marketing and Supply Chain Management, Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA)

International Journal of Operations & Production Management

ISSN: 0144-3577

Publication date: 15 August 2008

Abstract

Purpose

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The purpose of this paper is to extend our understanding of the importance of supplier dependence on the buyer's firm and its relationship to supplier training and supplier involvement in product development with respect to the supplier's performance.

Design/methodology/approach

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A random sample of 231 firms provided the data that were analyzed for this study. Using structural equation modeling, a sub‐set of the sample consisting of 166 manufacturing firms was used to test the five hypothesized relationships in the model.

Findings

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The main findings indicate that supplier dependence is a significant contributor to increasing supplier participation in buyer supported training and increasing supplier involvement in product development. Also, supplier training and supplier involvement are significant contributors to the supplier's operational performance.

Research limitations/implications

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The model tested in this study used a random sample of US manufacturing firms. Thus, future studies should include a random sample of non‐manufacturing firms and firms outside of the USA. The study explored the buyer's perspective only; a study of suppliers may provide further insights to extend this study. Although the use of supplier training was relatively low, significant relationships were identified.

Practical implications

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Based on this research, key suppliers can better understand the relationships among supplier dependence, supplier training, supplier involvement in product development and their effects on supplier's operational performance.

Originality/value

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Although supplier development has emerged in previously published studies as a critical factor in improving performance, the role of supplier dependence on the buyer has not been empirically examined. Further, an integrated research model that investigates the relationships among supplier dependence, supplier training, supplier involvement in product development and supplier's operational performance has not been offered.

Keywords

Citation

Carr, A.S., Kaynak, H., Hartley, J.L. and Ross, A. (2008), "Supplier dependence: impact on supplier's participation and performance", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 28 No. 9, pp. 899-916. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570810895302

Download as .RIS

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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