Buyer-supplier relationship and trust theory in innovative green procurement practices. Issue 1 (2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bag, Surajit
• Is Part Of: International journal of logistics systems and management. Volume 30:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2018
• Subjects: buyer-supplier relationship -- trust -- innovation -- green procurement performance; Business logistics -- Periodicals; 658.5005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7967

Abstract

In the '80s, buyers used to maintain an arms-length relationship with suppliers. However, in the early nineties a dramatic change has occurred and buyers started treating close suppliers as business partners. This paper aims to examine how buyer-supplier relationship management can contribute to innovative green procurement performance through the improvement of trust in the South African context. The hypotheses of this study were tested with the data from 50 South African manufacturing companies. Data collection involved convenience sampling and survey methodology in a research setting using procurement managers as subjects. The construct measures were based on existing measures and previous research studies. The reliability and validity of items were tested using exploratory factor analysis and an overall measurement model was assessed with mediating regression analysis using SPSS 22.0 version. The paper finds that trust plays a critical and mediating role in the relationship between buyer-supplier relationship and innovative green procurement performance. The present study is unique in terms of scope and its contribution to both buyer-supplier relationship theory and practice.