Title: Supply chain relationships: exploring the effects of both relational and structural embeddedness on operational performance

Authors: Guilherme S. Martins; Luciano Rossoni; André L.C.M. Duarte; Ricardo S. Martins

Addresses: Insper – Institute of Education and Research, 300 Quatá St. Vila Olimpia, São Paulo, SP, 04546-042, Brazil ' Universidade do Grande Rio 86 Lapa St., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20021-180, Brazil ' Insper – Institute of Education and Research 300 Quatá St. Vila Olimpia, São Paulo, SP, 04546-042, Brazil ' School of Business Administration, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) 6627 Antônio Carlos Av., Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

Abstract: Few studies approach supply chain relationships from the perspective of integration with customers and suppliers at the same time. In this paper the effects of both relational and structural embeddedness with suppliers and buyers on operational performance were evaluated in terms of productivity and quality. Hypotheses were tested by hierarchical linear regression models (OLS models) with a sample of Brazilian furniture firms. The results showed that relational embeddedness alone has positive effect only on quality, and paradoxically, higher levels of relational embeddedness lead to a reduction of the effect of structural embeddedness. One implication of the results involves the recognition that higher levels of trust and cooperation do not always lead to more benefits or greater levels of operational performance. If isolated from other governance mechanisms, these can even lead to the loss of one of the parties, reinforcing the idea that relational and structural embeddedness are complementary governance mechanisms.

Keywords: relational and structural embeddedness; operational performance; trust and cooperation; supply chain management; supplier and buyer relations; value chain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2017.086404

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2017 Vol.10 No.5, pp.639 - 664

Received: 25 May 2016
Accepted: 26 Aug 2016
Published online: 10 Sep 2017 *

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