Improving learning alliance performance for manufacturers: Does knowledge sharing matter?

Grounded in social exchange theory, this study investigates the antecedents and consequences of the improvement of the relationship between a buyer and its major supplier using structure equation modeling. The findings of the analysis show that adaptability and openness and innovation orientation are related to the improvement of a buyer-supplier relationship, which in turn fosters the sharing of tacit and explicit knowledge between exchange partners in a supply chain and enhances learning alliance performance. Theoretical contributions, implications for practitioners, and limitations of this study are also addressed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.