Title: Inter-firm relationship development in project-based companies: results of an empirical study

Authors: Janusz Marek Lichtarski

Addresses: Department of Strategic Management, Wrocław University of Economics and Business, Komandorska 118/120, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland

Abstract: This paper aims to identify the specificity and developmental patterns of interfirm relationships between project-based companies. The study follows a case study research design preceded by a systematic literature review on inter-firm relationship development and life-cycle. The study demonstrates the uniqueness of inter-firm relationships among project-based companies, different patterns of relationship development, and characteristic processes and behaviour along the relationship life-cycle. Describing different behaviours and patterns of inter-firm relationship development, the study explains and outlines the basics for predicting the evolution of inter-firm cooperation between project-based organisations. The study contributes to the relationship development literature by reviewing existing relationship life-cycle models through the project lens, and provides a new research perspective focused on project-based companies.

Keywords: relationship development; relationship life-cycle model; project-based companies; qualitative study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2022.127144

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2022 Vol.14 No.4, pp.452 - 477

Received: 18 Jan 2021
Accepted: 09 May 2021
Published online: 23 Nov 2022 *

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