Organisational resilience and relational dynamics in triadic networks: a multiple case analysis

Abstract

This study aims to analyse resilience and relational dynamics (competitive, cooperative and co-opetitive) within a triadic buyer–supplier–supplier context. Our central goal is to show how a buyer’s supplier–supplier relational behaviour leads to and shapes resilience of this triad. We utilised a multiple-design case approach and selected eight buyers and their suppliers from the textile industry in Turkey. By analysing a triadic context from another industry, we conducted validation analyses. Our findings showed a pattern of relationship between the resilience and the relational dynamics of a triad. Built on theory and insights from the cases, we proposed three propositions. We argued that when co-opetition prevails in a triadic context of relations, the triad resilience level is highest. In competitive relational settings the triad resilience level is lowest, and when the relational dynamics are cooperative, the triad resilience level is moderate. This study is the first to introduce and discuss organisational resilience at triadic level. Furthermore, to our knowledge, our insights from cases are among the first attempts to link three types of supplier–supplier relational dynamics to triad resilience via the use of a multiple-design case approach. Therefore, our contributions are likely to extend the organisational resilience and buyer–supplier–supplier relations research.

Keywords:

• resilience
• buyer–supplier–supplier triad
• co-opetition