Disentangling sustainability and resiliency factors in buyer-supplier relationships: A state-of-the-art review

The interdisciplinary nature of buyer-supplier relationships, whose related concepts have been presented in studies with contributions from supply chain management, industrial marketing, and strategy, has hindered our knowledge of the factors involved in buyer-supplier relationships. Although these factors have been investigated with different approaches and theories, the sustainability and resiliency factors involved in the buyer-supplier relationship requires further clarification. Therefore, this study aims to analyze buyer-supplier relationships and classify the factors involved using a systematic literature review. By synthesizing and categorizing the findings of 187 selected articles, using a neural network model, applying a force field analysis, an exploration-exploitation strategy, and a focus group, the paper presents an integrative framework for buyer-supplier relationships. This framework consists of six classes, including Relationship Quality as the central category of the framework, Driving Forces, Restraining Forces, Exploration Factors, Exploitation Factors, and Outcomes. Moreover, a classification of the factors involved in buyer-supplier relationships through sustainability and resilience approaches was presented. In this paper, the positive and dark sides of the relationship were covered simultaneously, and directions for future research were provided.