Abstract
Many researchers have investigated the dynamics of buyer-supplier relationships and have, in general, posited the importance of long-term, cooperative relationships. However, the relationship between suppliers (i.e., supplier-supplier relationship) and its potential impact on the buyer-supplier relationship have not yet been considered. This research addresses a void in the literature, especially given that many buyers now work with a smaller supplier base and deliberately try to foster certain types of supplier-supplier relationships. Building on the existing buyer-supplier and strategic alliance literature, we propose three archetypes of supplier-supplier relationships. This research further illustrates the strategic role of the buying firm in structuring these relationships and explores the managerial implications of different types of supplier-supplier relationships from the perspectives of both the buying firm and its suppliers.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 119-130 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2002 |
Keywords
- Buyer-supplier relationships
- Co-opetition
- Competition
- Cooperation
- Supplier-supplier relationships
- Supply chain management
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Strategy and Management
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering