Norm‐based relational behaviours: is there an underlying dimensional structure?

The purpose of the paper is to analyse what roles different relational norms play in long‐term business relationships.

The paper uses exploratory factor analysis on a data set of n=297 relationships and identifies two norm dimensions: value‐creating norms and value‐claiming norms.

This paper demonstrates that extant empirical research on relational norms and related behaviours is fragmentary and that there is considerable overlap between certain norms. Hence, the dimensionality of the norm concept remains unclear.

This study contributes to a clearer picture of the norm construct that has been used in a fragmented and selective way in empirical studies in the past.