Title: Manufacturer-user dependence, relationship learning and manufacturer servitisation in China

Authors: Jing Hua Li; Wen Juan Zhu; Li Lin; Li Ya Ma; Qiu Bo Huang

Addresses: Institute of Modern Services, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China; Research Centre for Technology Innovation and Service Management, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China ' Institute of Modern Services, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China; Research Centre for Technology Innovation and Service Management, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China ' Institute of Modern Services, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China; Research Centre for Technology Innovation and Service Management, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China ' Institute of Modern Services, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China; Research Centre for Technology Innovation and Service Management, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China ' Institute of Modern Services, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China; Research Centre for Technology Innovation and Service Management, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China

Abstract: Service-oriented manufacturing and integrated solutions emerged in enterprise practices and have been considered as worldwide academic focuses in the recent 20 years. Based on resource dependence theory, this paper quantitatively analysed the relationship among manufacturer-user dependence, relationship learning and manufacturer servitisation through questionnaire survey in China. It was found that the advantaged manufacturers can enhance the cooperation and servitisation while powerful users can weaken the communication and manufacturer servitisation. Therefore, compared with users, manufacturers tend to take more value-creating behaviours rather than value-appropriating behaviours. In addition, joint action plays a mediating role on the relationship between manufacturer-user relationship and manufacturer servitisation. This paper is supplementary to the research on manufacturer servitisation in the context of China and is an innovative application of resource dependence theory, which provides valuable insights.

Keywords: joint dependence; dependence advantage; relationship learning; manufacturer servitisation; resource dependence theory; service-oriented manufacturing; manufacturer-user dependence; China; cooperation; communication; value creation; joint action.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2015.072792

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2015 Vol.15 No.4, pp.311 - 332

Received: 13 Dec 2014
Accepted: 23 Mar 2015
Published online: 03 Nov 2015 *

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