<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec>
<h3>Purpose</h3>
<p>This review paper identifies and compares models of inter-organizational relationship development that have evolved in qualitative studies and then proposes an original, situational framework for the evolution of inter-organizational relationships over time.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>
<p>Methodologically, this paper follows a systematic approach and uses metasynthesis of prior qualitative research as a reviewing technique.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Findings</h3>
<p>The analysis of prior qualitative investigations reveals the lack of consistency among authors referring to the number and specificity of phases, with no agreement about the trajectory of relationship development (its linearity, looping of phases, dynamics, start and end points).</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Originality/value</h3>
<p>As its main theoretical contribution, this paper offers a multipath framework covering four phases of relationship development: (1) initiation and initial development, (2) development, (3) maintenance, and (4) dissolution, with three possible subphases to each of them (active, passive, and re-activated). From the managerial perspective, the developed framework may broaden managers’ understanding and awareness of the different approaches to modeling the trajectory of the inter-organizational relationship life cycle and configuration of its particular phases.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Purpose
This review paper identifies and compares models of inter-organizational relationship development that have evolved in qualitative studies and then proposes an original, situational framework for the evolution of inter-organizational relationships over time.


Design/methodology/approach
Methodologically, this paper follows a systematic approach and uses metasynthesis of prior qualitative research as a reviewing technique.


Findings
The analysis of prior qualitative investigations reveals the lack of consistency among authors referring to the number and specificity of phases, with no agreement about the trajectory of relationship development (its linearity, looping of phases, dynamics, start and end points).


Originality/value
As its main theoretical contribution, this paper offers a multipath framework covering four phases of relationship development: (1) initiation and initial development, (2) development, (3) maintenance, and (4) dissolution, with three possible subphases to each of them (active, passive, and re-activated). From the managerial perspective, the developed framework may broaden managers’ understanding and awareness of the different approaches to modeling the trajectory of the inter-organizational relationship life cycle and configuration of its particular phases.

A Multipath Development Framework for Inter-Organizational Relationships: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies

Wrocław University of Economics and Business

Department of Advanced Research in Management

International Journal of Contemporary Management

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Purpose
This review paper identifies and compares models of inter-organizational relationship development that have evolved in qualitative studies and then...

A Multipath Development Framework for Inter-Organizational Relationships: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Mar 29, 2023

Page range: 33 - 52

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcm-2023-0001

Keywords
metasynthesis, systematic literature review, integrative review, relationship dynamics, life cycle, development path, IOR

© 2023 Patrycja Klimas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

A Multipath Development Framework for Inter-Organizational Relationships: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Mar 29, 2023

Page range: 33 - 52

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcm-2023-0001

Keywordsmetasynthesis, systematic literature review, integrative review, relationship dynamics, life cycle, development path, IOR

© 2023 Patrycja Klimas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
metasynthesis, systematic literature review, integrative review, relationship dynamics, life cycle, development path, IOR