A review of inter-firm relationship quality in supply chains
Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing
ISSN: 0885-8624
Article publication date: 28 March 2020
Issue publication date: 23 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to conduct a review of the recent literature on inter-firm relationship quality (RQ) in the supply chain (SC) settings.
Design/methodology/approach
100 English-language scientific publications on inter-firm RQ, published from 2006 to 2015 were selected and analyzed by using a content analysis approach.
Findings
The results of the frequency analysis map the antecedents, dimensions and consequences – particularly the performance and behavioral intentions of collaborating partners – of buyer–seller RQ presented in the current literature. The contingency analysis offers insights into the use of relevant constructs of inter-firm RQ in SCs in the individual papers. A range of research gaps is uncovered.
Research limitations/implications
The category building for the content analysis was based on an RQ framework that focuses on the mediator structure and neglects the effects of moderators.
Practical implications
The developed framework of inter-firm RQ in SCs provides managers with a guide to the relevant influencing factors, evaluation indicators and consequences of the quality of their relationships with SC partners.
Originality/value
This paper provides the first literature review at the intersection of RQ and SC. The research framework developed specifies the use of the previous RQ framework in the business-to-business and SC context. A critique of the existing studies is discussed and the agenda for future research are suggested.
Keywords
Citation
Qian, C., Seuring, S. and Wagner, R. (2021), "A review of inter-firm relationship quality in supply chains", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 36 No. 12, pp. 2187-2200. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-05-2019-0199
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited