Resource heterogeneity and its effects on interaction and integration in customer-supplier relationships

What is it about?

This paper discusses different types of business interaction between customers and suppliers from a resource perspective. The empirical setting is the Norwegian seafood industry. In economic terms, a fish may be seen as a more or less homogeneous resource. If the fish is seen as a homogeneous resource, a "market" should be the best way to handle the selling and buying. However, if the fish is seen as a heterogeneous resource, a more extensive type of interaction is needed.

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Why is it important?

The findings suggest that there is a link between how the actors perceive fish as a resource and how they interact with counterparts. The authors find that the actors who see the resource as homogeneous have limited interaction and little or no integration, whereas the actors who see the resource as heterogeneous have a much more extensive interaction and closer ties.

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