Title: Contractual satisfaction: drivers and implication for theory

Authors: Emmanuel Chao

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Social Science, University of Agder, Servicebox 422, N-4604 Kristiansand, Norway

Abstract: The aim of inter-firm relations is to achieve each firm's objectives. The achievement of these objectives is reflected in firms' satisfaction. Satisfaction as a concept can be studied at different levels and contractual relations is one such level. Most studies on inter-firm satisfaction have looked at the general level of satisfaction, whose drivers are complex to account for. This study aims to investigate contractual satisfaction from the perspective of some of its key drivers. The main finding suggests that, while ongoing term specificity, contingent adaptability, reputation and trust have a positive influence on contractual satisfaction, opportunism has a negative one.

Keywords: contractual satisfaction; reputation; trust; opportunism; ongoing term specificity; contingent adaptability; inter-firm relations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2014.060368

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2014 Vol.7 No.3, pp.257 - 274

Published online: 07 Jun 2014 *

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