An institutional theory of quality outcomes in strategic supply chain partnership

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical base for buyer-supplier quality outcomes (in the context of a strategic partnership) from the institutional theory of the firm. It examines quality outcomes within a partnership and demonstrates how the partners’ quality outcomes are related.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines quality outcomes within a strategic supply chain partnership (buyer-supplier) and demonstrates how the partners’ quality performance are related. Correlation analysis is used to examine the research hypothesis.

Findings

Utilizing the institutional theory and stakeholder theory of the firm, it is argued that within a strategic partnership, the quality outcomes of the partners are significantly related. By focusing on a strategic alliance within a strategic group in the US airline industry, it is shown that there is a significant relationship among quality outcomes of the partners within the strategic alliance.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis was limited to only one strategic partnership. Future research should examine quality outcomes among multiple strategic partnerships in order to validate the findings of this study.

Originality/value

The study discusses the importance of strategic alliances and networks of firms as determinants of firm quality performance.

Citation

Mellat-Parast, M. (2015), "An institutional theory of quality outcomes in strategic supply chain partnership", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 32 No. 4, pp. 346-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-09-2012-0133