Science Research Management ›› 2013, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (11): 69-77.

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The effect of relationship fairness on relationship commitment in strategic alliance—The mediating role of inter-firm trust

Wu Zhiwei1, Chen Ying2, Wu Yizhen3   

  1. 1. School of Economics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China;
    2. School of Management and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China;
    3. School of Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • Received:2011-11-08 Revised:2012-10-22 Online:2013-11-13 Published:2013-11-13

Abstract: By establishing the mediator model, this paper studies the impact of the inter-firm relationship fairness on the relationship commitment and examines the inter-firm trust as a mediator. In the paper, a hierarchical regression analysis is made to the data collected in the form of scale from 230 enterprises in Jiangsu as a research model. The results show an existed influence between the relationship fairness and the commitment. The distributive fairness could promote the affective commitment directly, and bring in an indirect effect on the affective commitment through the ability trust at the same time;the procedural fairness mainly affects the affective commitment through the mediator variable of the ability trust; and the interaction fairness could reduce the level of the calculative commitment, while it has an indirect influence on the calculative commitment through enhancing the level of benevolent trust. Finally, the managerial suggestions are also provided in the paper.

Key words: relationship fairness, relationship commitment, inter-firm trust

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