Supplier strategies to compensate for knowledge asymmetries in buyer-supplier relationships: implications for economic upgrading

Hoque, S. F., Sinkovics, N. and Sinkovics, R. R. (2016) Supplier strategies to compensate for knowledge asymmetries in buyer-supplier relationships: implications for economic upgrading. European Journal of International Management, 10(3), pp. 254-283. (doi: 10.1504/EJIM.2016.076292)

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Abstract

This paper explores a special form of international outsourcing relationship in which suppliers make recurrent discrete transactions with the same buyers over a long period of time without the existence of any original legally binding written agreement. The study examines three research questions: (1) Can suppliers in such relationships access any of their buyers' tacit knowledge? (2) What implications does their access or the lack thereof have for their economic upgrading? (3) What strategies do suppliers adopt to compensate for existing knowledge asymmetries? The case analysis of three small Bangladeshi garment manufacturers reveals the following key findings. The studied firms only have access to their buyers' explicit/codified knowledge. Notwithstanding this, they have successfully developed relevant knowledge that has allowed them to engage in process upgrading.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Financial support from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK, who funded part of Rudolf Sinkovics’ time [grant number RES-075-25-0028], is gratefully acknowledged.
Keywords:Knowledge acquisition, knowledge sources, economic upgrading, buyer-supplier relationship, outsourcing.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Sinkovics, Professor Rudolf and Sinkovics, Dr Noemi
Authors: Hoque, S. F., Sinkovics, N., and Sinkovics, R. R.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
Journal Name:European Journal of International Management
Publisher:Inderscience
ISSN:1751-6757
ISSN (Online):1751-6765
Published Online:05 May 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in European Journal of International Management 10(3): 254-283
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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