The objective of this thesis is to show an overview of existing literature about contract violations and trust. The goal is to combine research on different aspects and reveal differences. Lastly, this thesis aims to develop a framework showing the whole process of contract violations and to establish propositions showing the causes and reasoning behind drivers, perceptions and reactions of contract violations.
In the last decades, challenges of globalization like globalized competition, rapid technological change, shorter product life circles and the rising demand of differentiated products by customers have made it difficult for organizations to stay competitive. As a result, cooperation between companies is increasing, because cooperation allows organizations to better focus on their core competencies while staying competitive at the same time. Therefore, the management of business relationships is of growing importance. In fact, the ability to develop and maintain strategic interorganizational relationships has become a critical competence in the last years. A major method to manage such relationships is through contracting. Contracts govern economic exchanges and help to align the expectations of partners involved in the relationship.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Theoretical background
- Contracts
- Trust
- Contract violation
- Drivers of contract violations
- Bounded rationality and opportunism
- Uncertainty, asset specificity and complexity
- Misaligned expectations
- Relationship strength
- Trust and distrust
- Contract specificity
- Perception of the contract violation
- Reaction following the contract violation
- Modification of the contract
- Trust repair
- Discussion
- Managerial and theoretical implications
- Limitations and further directions
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis provides an overview of existing literature regarding contract violations and trust in interorganizational relationships. It aims to combine research on different aspects of these phenomena, highlighting differences in perspectives and approaches. Ultimately, it aims to develop a framework that encompasses the entire process of contract violations and establish propositions exploring the causes and reasoning behind drivers, perceptions, and reactions to contract violations.
- The impact of contract violations on interorganizational relationships.
- The role of trust in mitigating and resolving contract violations.
- Factors that drive contract violations, including bounded rationality, opportunism, uncertainty, and relationship strength.
- Different perspectives on how contract violations are perceived.
- Potential reactions to contract violations, such as contract modification, trust repair, and termination.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The thesis begins by reviewing existing literature on contracts and trust, providing a theoretical foundation for the study of contract violations. It then defines contract violations and explores various forms they can take. The next chapter examines factors that facilitate interorganizational relationships, drawing on transaction cost theory and key concepts from contracting literature. Chapter five analyzes existing approaches to understanding how contract violations are perceived and proposes a framework for analyzing these perceptions. The subsequent chapter explores potential reactions to contract violations, including contract modification, trust repair, and contract termination.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this thesis include contract violations, trust, interorganizational relationships, transaction cost theory, bounded rationality, opportunism, uncertainty, asset specificity, relationship strength, trust repair, and contract modification. These keywords encapsulate the core concepts and themes of the work, highlighting the importance of understanding how contract violations impact interorganizational relationships and the role of trust in navigating these challenges.
- Quote paper
- Myrna Hantke (Author), 2018, Contract Violations in Interorganizational Relationships. Drivers, Perceptions and Reactions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/947689
