The antecedents and postcedents of satisfaction in business-to-business relationships in South Africa

Artikel

Background: A relationship marketing approach to the management of business relationships can enhance overall customer satisfaction and reduce economic risks, such as opportunism that is associated with business dealings.Aim: The aim of this study was to establish whether a positive relationship exists between trust and commitment, whether trust has a positive influence on commitment, whether trust and commitment positively influence satisfaction and whether opportunism and conflict are outcomes of satisfaction in South African buyer–supplier relationships.Setting: Top 500 companies operating in the South African private sector.Methods: Using a structured questionnaire, data were gathered from 250 large companies in South Africa and were analysed through the application of structural equation modelling (SEM).Results: The findings indicate that both trust and commitment were perceived as important antecedents of satisfaction in a South African business-to-business environment, and that trust is a precursor to commitment in relationship building between organisational buyers and sellers in South Africa. This study adds value by assisting business-to-business buyers and sellers in South Africa on variables to consider when developing relationship-building strategies.Conclusion: Both parties to a relationship should therefore build relationships founded on trust and commitment. This will enhance their joint satisfaction, resulting in less opportunism and conflict, and will foster long-term relationship building based on mutual satisfaction. In contrast, dissatisfaction could increase opportunism and conflict between the parties, leading eventually to the termination of their business relationship.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: South African Journal of Business Management ; ISSN: 2078-5976 ; Volume: 50 ; Year: 2019 ; Issue: 1 ; Pages: 1-11 ; Cape Town: African Online Scientific Information Systems (AOSIS)

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Management

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Roberts-Lombard, Mornay ; Mpinganjira, Mercy ; Svensson, Goran
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): African Online Scientific Information Systems (AOSIS)
• (where): Cape Town
• (when): 2019

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.4102/sajbm.v50i1.212
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/218693
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET