The Quality of Relationships When Business Association Is a Prerequisite to Obtain Benefits From Public Institutions

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to measure the levels of relational coordination and their impact on partners' satisfaction and perceived benefits at business associations belonging to the apparel industry of Tungurahua, Ecuador, that receives benefits from public institutions. For this purpose, two business associations from a footwear local fair and two associations from a textile and apparel fair were analyzed. Interviews were conducted with the presidents of these associations, and a survey was applied to their partners. Results show that these business associations must still work on the improvement of their relational coordination levels, especially on shared knowledge. Relational coordination has also been found to be positively correlated with satisfaction and perceived benefits. The results of this research have implications for business associations and public institutions that want to develop social capital through associativity with the aim of improving the competitivity of SMEs of the textile and apparel industry.