Marketing Environment and governance mechanisms: Focusing on Manufacturer’s Interfirm Benevolence

Abstract

Purpose - Manufacturers in uncertain environments need to depend on governance mechanisms to reduce the inherent risk in these environments. However, few studies have examined which governance mechanisms a given manufacturers will develop in uncertain environments for managing the relationships with its vertical partner. This study explores how different governance mechanisms function under uncertain environmental circumstances. We also try to investigate the contextual effect of interfirm benevolence as moderator. Research design, data, and methodology - This research provide the conceptual framework of interfirm benevolence on which this research's propositions are predicted. The theoretical background for environmental uncertainty, governance mechanisms and interfirm benevolence will be discussed. Results - The expected results are as follows. Manufacturers in an uncertain environments rely on different governance mechanisms under conditions of high and low interfirm benevolence. In terms of role of interfirm benevolence, interfirm benevolence provides a better understanding of how governance mechanisms can develop in an uncertain supply markets. Conclusions - This research suggests several theoretical and practical implications between channel partners, particularly, this research offers that interfirm benevolence is a crucial competitive factor under environmental uncertainty situation. In future studies, it is necessary to investigate the effect of each governance mechanism structure on performance in an uncertain environment and various level of interfirm benevolence.