Betrayal intention in exporter-importer working relationships: Drivers, outcomes, and moderating effects

Creative Commons License

Leonidou L. C., Aykol B., Fotiadis T. A., Christodoulides P.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW, vol.27, no.1, pp.246-258, 2018 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 27 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2017.07.005
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.246-258
  • Keywords: Betrayal, Buyer-seller relationships, Exporting/importing, BUYER-SELLER RELATIONSHIPS, PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT BREACH, BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIP QUALITY, MARKETING CHANNELS, DARK-SIDE, SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS, PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS, INTERFIRM RELATIONSHIPS, STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Betrayal is a very common, but relatively under-researched, dark side phenomenon in inter-firm relationships that warrants investigation. We propose a conceptual model of the factors reducing betrayal intention in exporter-importer (E-I) working relationships and its resulting effect on actual betrayal. Using a random sample of 262 indigenous exporters of manufactured goods based in Greece, we confirm that betrayal intention in their relationships with foreign buyers is significantly and negatively affected by four key parameters, namely, trust, communication, long-term orientation, and social bonds. An importer's betrayal intention is subsequently very likely to develop into actual betrayal in the relationship. However, this likelihood is lower in the case of older relationships, as well as those characterized by contractual obligation between the interacting parties.