Control as a key success factor in supply chain alliances

Abstract

Research into supply chain alliances has identified a number of key success factors. However, alliance success has not been systematically linked to the control mechanisms employed used in them. We argue that alliance partners need to balance trust building and control mechanisms and that the optimal level of control and trust varies with the alliance form. In this paper we propose a theoretical model that refines and extends the existing alliance success models in supply chain management by introducing control mechanisms as a key success factor and the alliance form as a moderator of trust and control.