Title: A qualitative study of the relationship between interorganizational internet communication and purchasing performance

Authors: Shaohan Cai, Minjoon Jun

Addresses: Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, 710 Dunton Tower, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada. ' Department of Management, College of Business, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA

Abstract: We develop a conceptual framework that integrates three key dimensions of interorganizational internet communication, such as formality, frequency and diversity, their two antecedents, perceived internet security risks and norms of internet information sharing and one consequence, purchasing performance. The linkages between these constructs were empirically tested through a series of interviews with purchasing managers. The results reveal that the frequency and diversity of internet communication play an important role in enhancing purchasing performance; formality exerts a minimal impact on the performance and perceived internet security risks significantly affect norms of internet information sharing, and in turn frequency and diversity.

Keywords: internet communication; internet security risks; SCM; supply chain management; interorganisational communication; purchasing performance; qualitative research; information sharing; web-based communication.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2008.021190

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2008 Vol.5 No.6, pp.683 - 707

Published online: 09 Nov 2008 *

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