Trust among supply chain partners: A review

Abstract

Purpose: The primary purpose of this paper is to develop a context-dependent, multi-perspective and multilevel concept called "trust" among supply chain members (SCM); second, to classify trust; third, to classify available literature and finally, to propose areas for future research. The field related to trust among supply chain partners has historically been collected through studies in micro- functional areas. While some effort towards producing a broader organizational perspective has been made, nonetheless, trust in SCM continues to be largely eclectic, with little consensus on its conceptualization and research methodological bases. This paper seeks to clarify aspects of this emerging perspective. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 100 papers/articles were systematically perused and analyzed. Findings: A number of key findings emerged: the field is a relatively "new" one for supply chain management; several disciplines claim ownership of the field; consensus is lacking on the definition of the term; research on trust emphasizes to focus on characteristic trust and negligible attention is given to other forms of trust, such as, rational and institutional trust, and decision to trust-required multiple judgments. Contextual focus is mostly on the buyer-supplier trust development and the predominant key perspectives of trust in supply chain relationship are; characteristic trust, rational trust (cost and benefit, dynamic capabilities, technology) and institutional trust/security system; lack of theories related to economic aspect and competitive advantages of trust. Practical implications: This review paper has attempted to identify various conceptual and research methodological characteristics of trust. It has also developed a context to comprehend a multi perspective, multilevel concept called trust for the complex multi-dimensional construct of supply chain partner's relationship. Originality/value: This review may be one of the first to develop a context for multi-perspective multilevel concept and trust among supply chain members. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.