Sourcing trust is a multi-level concept - Insights from an automobile manufacturer

Other conference contribution, 2018

With this study, we aim to increase our understanding of trust when selecting suppliers. Entering a relationship with a supplier for an extended period of time requires a certain level of trust on different facets (e.g. the interpersonal relationships, continuous supply, compatibilities, etc.). The question raised is how this trust is actually defined and used during sourcing, when the buyer decides on entering a relationship with a supplier. The phenomenon is studied in the automobile industry, which is experiencing a higher level of dependency on suppliers for sensitive and at times strategic components. A single case of a major Auto manufacturer is studied using 29 interviews. Our findings show that sourcing trust is a multi-leveled concept ranging from inter-personal to the
network level.