Title: Buyer–supplier behaviour in electronic reverse auctions: a relationships perspective

Authors: S. Dani, N.D. Burns, C.J. Backhouse

Addresses: Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK. ' Manufacturing Organisation Group, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK. ' Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK

Abstract: This paper presents a conceptual framework for studying and understanding buyer–supplier behaviour in Electronic Reverse Auctions (E-RAs) from a relationships viewpoint. The E-RAs are very popular with buyers, though suppliers view them as being harmful to the health of their business in the long run. This has resulted in various issues, which can be detrimental for the future of E-RAs. These issues have been addressed by various researchers (Beall et al., 2003; Griffiths, 2003; Jap, 2003) as being unethical practices and the auction providers have built in some codes of conduct in the process to curb this behaviour. Though this has been successful to some extent, it has not eliminated these practices. This paper tries to explain some of the behaviour from a different perspective, using a new conceptual framework and a tool used in psychological therapeutic counselling, ||Transactional Analysis|| (TA).

Keywords: electronic reverse auctions; buyer–supplier behaviour; customer–supplier relationships; e-auction behaviour; e-auctions; supply relationships; transactional analysis; unethical behaviour; ethics; code of conduct.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2005.006315

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2005 Vol.1 No.1, pp.22 - 34

Published online: 19 Feb 2005 *

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