A Multipath Development Framework for Inter-Organizational Relationships: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies
, y | 29 mar 2023
Article Category: Research Article
Publicado en línea: 29 mar 2023
Páginas: 33 - 52
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcm-2023-0001
Palabras clave
© 2023 Patrycja Klimas et al., published by Sciendo
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 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.