Organizational partnerships in China : self-interest, goal interdependence, and opportunism

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Journal of Applied Psychology

Publication Date

7-1-2005

Volume

90

Issue

4

First Page

782

Last Page

791

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Abstract

Opportunism in organizational partnerships may be understood in terms of how partners conclude that their self-interests are related to each other. When partners believe that their goals are competitively but not cooperatively related, they are tempted to pursue their self-interests opportunistically. Cognitive understandings and values of a shared vision may help partners believe their goals are cooperatively related. Results from 103 pairs of customer and supplier organizations support the argument that partnerships are not inevitably threatened by opportunism. Using structural equation analysis, the authors suggested that shared vision can help partners develop cooperative goals that lead to low levels of opportunism. These results suggest that a shared vision and cooperative goals are important foundations for effective organizational partnerships.

DOI

10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.782

Print ISSN

00219010

E-ISSN

19391854

Publisher Statement

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Wong, A., Tjosvold, D., & Yu, Z.-y. (2005). Organizational partnerships in China: Self-interest, goal interdependence, and opportunism. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 782-791. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.782

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