A Multipath Development Framework for Inter-Organizational Relationships: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies
, et | 29 mars 2023
À propos de cet article
Article Category: Research Article
Publié en ligne: 29 mars 2023
Pages: 33 - 52
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcm-2023-0001
Mots clés
© 2023 Patrycja Klimas et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Table 2.
The process of SLR
10 pairs of search terms linking “interfirm” AND: “relation 10 pairs of searching terms linking “interorganizational “relation |
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Search in: title OR abstract OR keywords Publication date: 1998 or later Publication type: articles published in scientific journals Reviewing procedure: peer reviewed or double peer reviewed Language: English Research areas: Business /Economics /Management |
Exclude conference papers, proceedings, book chapters, scientific announcements, etc. Exclude works not available in full text format. |
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| Database obtained using searching criteria | 6070 | 35 | 4892 | |
| Database obtained using both inclusion and exclusion criteria | 467 | 6 | 156 | |
| Identified works in three academic databases | 629 | |||
| Duplicated works | 82 | |||
| Selection of works was conducted by reading the titles, abstracts, key words (if available), and conclusion part of the papers gathered in the initial database. | ||||
Selected articles – directly referring to our research aim or research questions, the work focuses on B2B relationships and adopts a management perspective. Inspiring articles – indirectly referring to our research aim or research questions, the work focuses on B2C relationships and adopts an interesting perspective on the considered issues (e.g., unknown or unusual for management studies). Not relevant articles – not referring to our research aim or research questions, the work considers issues outside our scope of interest (i.e., random terminology convergence). |
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| Works marked as selected | 35 | 34 | 32 | 101 |
| Works marked as inspiring | 16 | 42 | 30 | 88 |
| Works marked as not relevant | 126 | 9 | 115 | 340 |
| Duplicated works | 6 | 8 | 4 | 18 |
| Added seminal papers |
7 | |||
| Conceptual aspects analyzed | Definitions adopted, reference theories, main gaps filled, newly identified gaps, and future research directions. |
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| Methodological aspects analyzed | Research methods and techniques, sample size, study context. |
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| Criteria of comparative analysis | Number and specificity of phases of RLC, linearity of RLC, renewal (regression) of phases, inclusion of pre-relationship phase(-s), consideration of post-relationship phase(-s), time dependency, breaking/change events for phases and IOR, sources of heterogeneity of IOR, features of RLC. |
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| Approach to data analysis | Qualitative, concept centric thematic synthesis. |
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| Dissemination of findings | Dissemination of results. |
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Qualitative studies on the relationship life cycle
| Authors | Year | Research subject | Followed approach to RLC | Research method (data collection and analysis) | Sample size | Industry | Relationship research focus / type | Country | Phases | Linearity | RLC process descriptions | Renewal | Pre-relationship phase (-s) | Post-relationship phase (-s) | Time importance | Points of change | Cultural context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batonda & Perry | 2003 | Inter-firm network development phases – RLC | Adopted from literature review (e.g., |
Multiple, in-depth case study (semi-structured interviews) | 12D (24) | Manufacturing & services industries | D /manufacturer – service | Australia-Asia | Searching Starting Development On-going maintenance Termination Dormant and re-activation |
non-L | PR | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| Heffernan & Poole | 2004 | Critical prevention factors of relationship deterioration and termination | Adopted from literature review (e.g., Ford, 1982; |
Multiple case study (indepth interviews) | 10D (38) | Universities | D /university – offshore partner | Australia-Asia | Pre-relationship Early interaction Relationship growth Partnership Relationship end | STG | yes | yes | |||||
| Lau & Goh | 2005 | Factors that influence relational change | Based on ( |
Comparative case study (in-depth interviews and unstructured discussions) | 3D (6) | Printed circuit board (PCB) industry | D/buyer – seller | Singapore-German / Taiwan | Pre-relationship Early Development Long-term | STG | yes | yes | yes | yes | |||
| Duanmu & Fai | 2007 | Factors that accelerate or prolong RDP at each phase (according to knowledge transfer) | A priori stated | Multiple, processual case study (semi-structured interviews) | ‘ 16D (32) | Electrical and electronics industry | D /multinational enterprise (MNE) – supplier | China | Initiating Developing Intensifying | STG | yes | ||||||
| Meng | 2010 | Key relationship indicators | Adopted from literature review (Li et al., 2000; SFfC, 2003; Humphreys et al., 2003; Jones & Saad, 2003). | Case study (focus on interview, expert interviews, scoring, Analytic Hierarchy Process) | 2 | Construction | D /supply chain relationship, customer supplier | UK | Level 1 (adversarialism or arm’s length) Level 2 (limited cooperation) Level 3 (short-term collaboration) Level 4 (long-term collaboration) | STG | |||||||
| Davis & Love | 2011 | Key factors of successful relationship development in alliances | Based on (Ford et al., 1998; |
Multiple case study (indepth interviews) | (49) | Construction | I /supply chain, vary industry practitioners | Australia | Assessment Commitment Enduring | non-L | STG/PH | yes | yes | ||||
| Ming-Huei & Wen-Chiung | 2011 | Factors of key account relationships that differ alignment patterns and drive alignment transitions over time | Based on ( |
Multiple case study (indepth interviews) | 4D (11) | TFT-LCD, gas production, legal service, steel and iron production | D /key account relationships, buyer – seller | Global context | Exploration Build-up Maturity | PH /PR | |||||||
| Lee & Johnsen | 2012 | Characteristics of asymmetric relationships and relationship development stages | Adopted from literature review (e.g., |
Multiple, in-depth case study (semi-structured interviews) | 5 (50) | Electronic | D /customer – supplier relationship | Taiwan | Exploratory Developing Stable | STG | yes | yes | |||||
| Abosag & Lee | 2013 | Variability of key, culturally conditioned relationship factors | Based on ( |
Longitudinal, multiple case study (in-depth interviews, data collected twice) | 33 | Manufacturing industry | I /only manufacturing industry managers point of view | Saudi Arabia | Pre-relationship Early integration Growth Maintenance Dissolution phase |
non-L | STG / PH | yes | yes | ||||
| Baptista | 2013 | Significant driving forces for long-term relationship development – RDP | Based on (Johanson & Mattsson, 1987; Möller & Wilson, 1988, |
Longitudinal, multiple case study (in-depth interviews) | 4D (35) | Mining industry | D/buyer – seller | Portugal | Exchange Adaptation Coordination | PR | yes | ||||||
| Plewa et al. | 2013 | Key success factors of the different relationship phases | Based on ( |
Multiple case study (in-depth semi-structured interviews) | 15D (30) | University – industry (various) | D /university – industry relationship | Australia-German / Holland | Pre-linkage Establishment Engagement Advancement Latent phase | non-L | PH | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| Akrout | 2014 | How relationship quality dimensions develop in each phase of buyer-seller relationship | Based on ( |
Multiple case study (in-depth semi-structured interviews) | 39 | Various B2B sectors | I /only French buyers point of view | France | Exploration Expansion Maintenance | L | STG/PH | yes | yes | ||||
| Mandják et al. | 2015 | A role of trust in the birth of business relationships | Based on ( |
Case study (in-depth interviews) | Electronic | D /buyer – supplier | Hungary | NA | STG | yes | yes | ||||||
| Hastings et al. | 2016 | Critical success criteria for pre-relationships state /early relationships state | Adopted from literature review (e.g., |
Multiple case study (semi-structured interviews, summative assessment approach) | 4 | Prawn fisheries | D /fishery value chain (assessment) | Australia | NA | non-L | STT/STG | yes | yes | yes | |||
| Panda & Dash | 2016 | The role of control and trust for developing a cooperative VC-entrepreneur relationship | A priori stated | Multiple case study (semi-structured interviews) | 10D (28+20) | Diverse | D /VC-entrepreneur relationships | India | Early phase, Growth phase | STG | yes | yes | |||||
| de Almeida Moraes et al. | 2017 | How firms access and use international partner networks over time in their internationalization processes – RLC | A posteriori – emerges from the research | Longitudinal, multiple case study (interviews) | 4D (16) | IT software | I /only software service firms point of view | Brasil | Pre-relationship Trigger Initial contact Formalization Building personal relationships Local expansion Internationalization |
STG | yes | yes | yes | yes | |||
| Ferreira et al. | 2017 | A phase model for solution relationship development – RLC | Based on ( |
Multiple case study (in-depth interviews) | 9D /4T | Aerospace | D-T /manufacturer – supplier – customer | Global context | Matching Combining Mixing Sharing |
non-L | PH | yes | yes | yes | |||
| Restuccia & Legoux | 2019 | The contingency role of the relationship life-cycle in driving future customer outcomes – RLC | Based on ( |
Longitudinal case study (archival sales data, in-depth interviews, longitudinal analysis) | 1 | Printing company | I /only supplier point of view | North America | Exploration Buildup Maturity Decline | STG | yes |