There is a growing interest in examining the characteristics of asymmetry in relationships, specifically between smaller suppliers and larger customers. This study examines how suppliers use information technology (IT) as strategic resources and governance enablers to offset the asymmetry in bargaining power in the international supply chain relationship. Taking a supplier perspective and drawing on resource-based view (RBV) and transaction cost economic (TCE), we propose that two types of IT resources, IT advancement and electronic integration can reap benefits for suppliers with respect to innovativeness and market performance. We argue that this process is mediated by three specific forms of governance, cooperative norm, output control and process control. Moreover, we argue that cultural distance moderates the process of IT-mediated international B2B relationships. Hypotheses are tested using data from 240 Taiwanese supplier-international customer relationships in the electronics industry. Findings help to understand the processes of how IT resources, specifically IT advancement and electronic integration, can help restructure' interorganizatioal governance mechanisms for suppliers in relation with larger customers in the international market and ultimately can enhance suppliers' innovativeness and market performance.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:487925 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Ruey, Jer Jean |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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