Affective Commitment in Industrial Customer-Supplier Relations: A Psychological Contract Approach
2012 (English)In: Journal of business & industrial marketing, ISSN 0885-8624, E-ISSN 2052-1189, Vol. 27, no 4, p. 275-285Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to develop the construct of affective commitment in business-to-business relationships between customers and suppliers, as well as to introduce the psychological contract as a central antecedent to affective commitment.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of the literature on psychological contracts and relationship marketing relating to affective relationship commitment was conducted to make a theoretical contribution in a buyer-supplier relationship context.
Findings
By focusing on the individual and incorporating relevant mental processes, theories on affective commitment have been developed. A model and propositions concerning the impact of psychological contracts on affective relationship commitment are suggested, where the psychological contract plays a central role in mediating the effects of several antecedents to affective commitment.
Research limitations/implications
By focusing on the individual’s role in affective relationship commitment, this paper contrasts with much of the earlier research, which has used the firm as the unit of analysis. For practitioners, using such an approach will provide a more realistic view of the dynamics in the relationship.
Originality/value
This study makes two main contributions. First, it develops conceptual clarity of the affective commitment construct by putting a clear focus on the individual. Second, it proposes a model that describes the influence of several antecedents to affective commitment, suggesting a central role of psychological contracts in explaining the presence of affective commitment in business-to-business relationships.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2012. Vol. 27, no 4, p. 275-285
Keywords [en]
Relational orientation, Balance of obligations, Individual level, Trust, Contracts, Business-to-business marketing, Channel relationships
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-12845DOI: 10.1108/08858621211221652ISI: 000304508500002Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84859407532OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-12845DiVA, id: diva2:551572
2012-09-112012-09-112023-03-08Bibliographically approved