To examine the relationships between supplier development practices and supplier-buyer relationship practices from the supplier’s perspective

Performance implication of supplier relationship quality: a structural analysis

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of supplier relationship quality on curtailing opportunism and promoting cooperation between the exchange partners. It also investigates the contingent impact of contract specificity on the relationships and assesses performance implications of relationship quality for both buyer and its major supplier in the exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were performed based on data collected from manufacturers in a survey. The hypotheses were tested using path analysis.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate a pivotal role of supplier relationship quality in suppressing opportunism and enhancing cooperation between exchange parties, which lead to dyadic performance. Furthermore, the effect of supplier relationship quality is strengthened by contract specificity.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the existing streams of studies in several ways. First, informed by the nexus of relational capital theory and transaction cost economics, the authors emphasize the pivotal role of relationship quality in curtailing opportunism and fostering cooperation and the moderating effect of contract specificity on the above linkages. Second, this study provides empirical evidence of the mechanism of the effect of contract specificity on opportunism and cooperation.

Reviewing and conceptualizing supplier development

Purpose

The literature on supplier development (SD) is mostly fragmented, and very little research offers insights on the interrelations of the critical elements of SD. This research aims to evaluate the significance of SD and reconceptualise it by identifying and linking the key constructs and items of SD.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review of SD literature was performed, and it was followed by conducting a contingency analysis of defined constructs and the items of SD. Applying a literature review and contingency analysis allows assessing the degree to which core constructs and their operational items are addressed in the SD literature.

Findings

Our findings show that a high degree of interrelations exists among enablers, relationships and supplier development strategies (SDS), of which, only indirect SDS drives the performance outcomes. However, interrelations between the individual items of the main categories of SD remain unexplored.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed revised framework reveals significant research gaps in SD and calls for a thorough examination of the topic.

Originality/value

The key contribution of the paper is reconceptualising SD and contributing to the theoretical development of SD.

Dyadic alignment in capital goods companies

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main factors of the dyadic alignment in the supply chain of capital goods companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among 159 respondents (53 supplier companies, 53 manufacturers and 53 clients).

Findings

Using structural equation modelling, no evidence of alignment between suppliers and manufacturers was identified. However, for the manufacturers, there is a partial mediation effect of the operational capabilities in the relationship between supply chain management and business performance.

Originality/value

This research investigates whether there is a dyadic alignment among supplier–manufacturer, manufacturer–customer and supplier–customer from the capital goods manufacturers’ perspective.

Benchmarking the triple-A supply chain: orchestrating agility, adaptability, and alignment

Purpose

Limited research examines the triple-A supply chain of agility, adaptability and alignment. The purpose of this paper is to draw on extant literature under the lens of resource orchestration theory to develop a comprehensive framework of antecedents and consequences of triple-A supply chains, allowing both scholars and practitioners to benchmark and prioritize triple-A capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review focusing on four supply chain journals is conducted to integrate the distinct bodies of knowledge on supply chain agility, adaptability and alignment.

Findings

The integration of this literature identifies common and distinct antecedents and consequences of each, developing a comprehensive model of triple-A supply chains as well as proposing opportunities for further study.

Originality/value

Limited studies to date have an integrated agility, adaptability and alignment, thus lacking a comprehensive framework of triple-A supply chains. Managers can use the findings to determine actions needed to deploy triple-A capabilities and better understand the resulting potential benefits.