Toimittajayhteistyön rooli toimitusketjun suorituskyvyn parantamisessa : tapaustutkimus rakennusalalta

The collaborative supplier relationships have been identified as a factor that generates competitive advantage. However, the collaborative supplier relationships remain underutilized in the construction industry. The project-driven operational environment increases the uncertainty and hinders the ability to commit to the long-term. This thesis examines how collaborative supplier relationships can be managed in infrastructure construction. The thesis adopts a qualitative approach, as a single case study is conducted. The data consists mainly of semi-structured interviews. The interviews are related to themes including collaboration, trust, power relations, and interdependencies. Additionally, the case firm’s supplier data was utilized as secondary data to support the primary data. The findings of the study suggest that infrastructure construction supply chains can benefit from collaborative supplier relationships. The current collaborative supplier relationships are characterized by fragmentation and inconsistency. The results indicate that building trust and long-term commitment positively affect the development of inter-firm capabilities. Successful supplier relationship management requires standardized business processes to reduce the negative effects of fragmentation. It is suggested that effective relational governance and communication play a key role in the implementation of collaborative initiatives, as the environment does not allow contractual long-term commitment. These insights support practitioners in developing more collaborative supplier relationships.