Benefiting from dedication and constraint in buyer-seller relationships

This paper contributes to recent calls for studying the effectiveness of relationship-based marketing practices [De Wulf, Odekerken-Schröder, & Iacobucci, 2001; Palmatier, Robert W., Dant, Rajiv P., Grewal, Dhruv, Evans, K.R. (2006), Factors influencing the effectiveness of relationship marketing: A meta-analysis, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 70, October, 142-143.] by identifying the influence of relationship investments, personnel competencies, frequency and quality of communication on some selected B2B relationship outcomes. The paper also sheds light on the discussion of the role of contextual factors on relationship development by incorporating the construct of quality of supply alternatives into the hypothesized structural model and empirically testing this model in the context of the transforming Polish economy. The results of research conducted among business customers are used to verify the model using SEM techniques.According to a prior conceptualization [Bendapudi, Neeli, Berry, Leonard L. (1997), "Customers' Motivations for Maintaining Relationships With Service Providers," Journal of Retailing, Vol. 73[1], 15-37.] research suggests that companies operating in B2B markets may benefit from both dedication-based and constraint-based relationships, but the first type of relationships brings more positive outcomes. The widest set of relationship benefits may be achieved by improving the emotional tone of the relationship which is connected mostly with developing competencies of personnel and a high quality of inter-firm communication. Other analyzed marketing practices should be carefully used because they may not lead to expected results. The research results are discussed with regard to prior studies in the area. Some managerial implications, study limitations and suggestions for further research are presented. © 2009 Elsevier Inc.