Interpersonal and inter-organizational relationship drivers of supply chain integration. Issue 6 (7th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Bill; Kang, Yuanfei; Childerhouse, Paul; Huo, Baofeng
• Is Part Of: Industrial management & data systems. Volume 118:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 1170
• Page End: 1191
• Publication Date: 2018-08-07
• Subjects: Case study -- Interpersonal relationships -- Supply chain integration -- Inter-organizational relationships -- Relationships -- Integration; Industrial management -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Periodicals; Business -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 658.05
• DOI: 10.1108/IMDS-05-2017-0216
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-5577

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how interpersonal relationships (IPRs) and inter-organisational relationships (IORs) interact with each other as driving forces of supply chain integration (SCI). More specifically (the) three dimensions of IPR – personal affection, personal credibility, and personal communication – are examined in regards to how they affect inter-organisational relationships during SCI. Design/methodology/approach: The research employed an exploratory multiple case study approach with four New Zealand case companies selected as the empirical basis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of managerial executives in relation to supply chain activities, which were triangulated with company archival data. Findings: The authors found that IPRs are able to interact with IORs to influence the integration of supply chains. More specifically, IPRs influence IORs by initiating organisational relationships in the SCI context; and influences from IPR dimensions on IORs tend to be of differing magnitudes and have different evolutional paths across the whole SCI process. Originality/value: This research contributes to knowledge about the roles and mechanisms through which IPRs shape and enable inter-organisational level relationships within the SCI context.