A review of inter-firm relationship quality in supply chains

Purpose – This paper aims to conduct a review of the recent literature on inter-firm relationship quality (RQ) in supply chain (SC) settings. Design/methodology/approach – 100 English-language scientific publications on inter-firm RQ, published from 2006 to 2015 were selected and analyzed by using a content analysis approach. Findings – The results of the frequency analysis map the antecedents, dimensions and consequences - particularly the performance and behavioral intentions of collaborating partners - of buyer-seller RQ presented in the current literature. The contingency analysis offers insights into the use of relevant constructs of inter-firm RQ in SCs in the individual papers. A range of research gaps is uncovered. Research limitations/implications – The category building for the content analysis was based on a RQ framework that focuses on the mediator structure and neglects the effects of moderators. Practical implications – The developed framework of inter-firm RQ in SCs provides managers with a guide to the relevant influencing factors, evaluation indicators and consequences of the quality of their relationships with SC partners. Originality/value – This paper provides the first literature review at the intersection of RQ and SC. The research framework developed specifies the use of the previous RQ framework in the business-to-business and SC context. A critique of the existing studies is discussed and the agenda for future research is suggested.