How boundary spanners'guanximatters: managing supply chain dependence in China

Abstract

PurposeInterorganizational dependence is considered as a liability for each firm and needs to be managed properly. Rather than exploring the opportunistic outcome of dependence, the authors focus on the moderating role of supply chain boundary spanners'guanxi. This study tends to uncover the way and the conditions under which boundary spanners'guanxiinfluences dependence-opportunism relationships.Design/methodology/approachUsing a survey of 380 buyer–supplier exchanges in China, this study first examines the relationship between dependence and opportunism, then assesses the contingent role of boundary spanners'guanxiand further tests how unfairness perception and legal inefficiency alter the role ofguanxiin managing dependence.FindingsThis study finds that buyer dependence increases supplier opportunism while supplier dependence lowers supplier opportunism. Boundary spanners'guanxiweakens the opportunism-facilitating impact of buyer dependence and mitigates the opportunism-restricting effect of supplier dependence. However, unfairness perception would attenuate the value ofguanxiin restricting depended sides' opportunism but strengthen the value ofguanxiin motivating depending sides' opportunism; legal inefficiency would amplify the value ofguanxiin facilitating depending suppliers' opportunism.Originality/valueFirst, the study enriches supply chain dependence studies by incorporating interpersonalguanxiinto the investigation of dependence-opportunism relationships. Second, the study adds to the supply chain management literature by uncovering a contrasting role ofguanxiin influencing the dependence-opportunism relationship. Third, the study incorporates an agency view to uncover two boundary conditions under whichguanxiis mobilized for personal interest seeking or for organizational purposes.