Building quality international channel partner relations: a dyadic perspective

Abstract

[Abstract]: This paper investigates how Australian exporters and importers in Japan and Malaysia rate their current business relationships and areas that need improvement. These areas where investigated in terms of the characteristics of the five states of business-to-business relationship development from the literature. A series of 25 in-depth interviews with Asian importers and Australian exporters about what constituted satisfactory trading relationship development from a dyadic perspective revealed that unless the early stages have been properly completed then consequent dissatisfaction in such relationships can be attributed primarily to communication problems emanating from neglect in the early stages. Conversely, excellent relationships exhibited characteristics such as trust, commitment, share goals and co-operation.