Personal relationship and conflicts in supply chains: Exploration of buyers and suppliers in Australian manufacturing and service sector
Benchmarking: An International Journal
ISSN: 1463-5771
Article publication date: 10 June 2019
Issue publication date: 13 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand conflicts that emerge between managers of buying and supplying firms when a personal relationship (friendship, etc.) is present between them in the supply chain context.
Design/methodology/approach
This research uses a case study methodology and relies on data obtained from 30 qualitative interviews with managers of buying and supplying firms, having a personal relationship within inter-firm relationships to promote the interest of the firm.
Findings
Results from this study reveal conflicts between managers of buying and supplying firms due to the presence of a personal relationship between them. Specifically, results suggest that managers face ego conflict, supplier’s selection conflict and conflict on accepting late deliveries when they rely on personal relationships, which are themselves embedded within inter-firm relationship.
Research limitations/implications
This study has some limitations. First, this study examines behavioural patterns in Australian cultural context. Second, results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population.
Practical implications
Firms can use the findings to understand conflicts, which arise between managers of buying and supplying firms, as a result of a personal relationship between them in the supply chain.
Originality/value
This is, perhaps, the first study contributing to the supply chain relationship literature by unveiling conflicts between managers of buying and supplying firms, when a personal relationship is present between them.
Keywords
Citation
Butt, A.S. and Ahmad, A.B. (2019), "Personal relationship and conflicts in supply chains: Exploration of buyers and suppliers in Australian manufacturing and service sector", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 26 No. 7, pp. 2225-2241. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-02-2019-0067
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited