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The cooperative–adversarial dichotomy has served as the prevailing buyer–supplier relationship typology in the literature. Cooperative buyer–supplier relationships have been associated with closely tied relationships, while adversarial relationships have been equated to arms‐length relationships. We propose, however, that this perspective is overly simplified; a cooperative relationship is orthogonal to a closely tied relationship and an adversarial relationship to an arms‐length relationship. That is, there can be a closely tied yet adversarial relationship and an arms‐length yet cooperative relationship. We theorize the buyer–supplier relationship in two orthogonal aspects—(1) relational posture, that is, how two firms regard each other (as cooperative partners or as adversaries) and (2) relational intensity, that is, how much two firms’ operations are interlinked (closely tied or arms‐length). By considering the two aspects concurrently, this article proposes an expanded typology of buyer–supplier relationships. We label a closely tied and cooperative buyer–supplier type as “deep”; a closely tied but adversarial type as “sticky”; an arms‐length and adversarial type as “transient”; and an arms‐length but cooperative type as “gracious.” We then present an analysis that supports the orthogonality of the two relational dimensions. This analysis suggests that the expanded relationship types are associated with different relational outcome trade‐offs. The data are collected from a global, large Japanese automaker and 163 of its suppliers in North America. Overall, the results provide empirical support for the expanded buyer–supplier relationship typology.

PurposeThis paper draws upon the Yin and Yang concept of Chinese philosophy within a Western context to examine coopetition, namely, the interplay between cooperation and competition. Although coopetition activities should positively affect company performance, earlier research involving this relationship has typically been linear in nature and without moderating factors. Consequently, underpinned by resource-based theory and the relational view, the purpose of this investigation is to examine the non-linear (inverted U-shaped) link between coopetition and company performance under the moderating role of competitive intensity.Design/methodology/approachCollection of survey data involved a sample of 101 internationalising wine producers in New Zealand. Following a check of the statistical data for all major assessments of reliability and validity (together with common method variance), testing the research hypotheses and control paths took place through hierarchical regression. Furthermore, 20 semi-structured interviews helped explain the underlying mechanisms behind the quantitative results.FindingsCoopetition had a non-linear (inverted U-shaped) relationship with market performance. Surprisingly, competitive intensity yielded a negative moderation effect. The mixed methods results highlighted that firms must strike an effective balance between the paradoxical forces of cooperativeness and competitiveness across their product-market strategies.Originality/valueThis investigation contributes to the existing literature by developing and testing a conceptual framework examining the nature of the relationship between coopetition activities and market performance – using non-linear (inverted U-shaped) and moderating effects. It addresses a debate between two schools-of-thought concerning the impact of competitive intensity on the coopetition paradox. Additionally, this study helps to explain the coopetition construct through the Yin and Yang concept to highlight how the paradoxical forces of cooperativeness and competitiveness can create harmful outcomes for organisations if they do not manage them effectively (across domestic and international markets).

The COVID-19 pandemic gives us the largest telework experiment ever conducted globally, that will most likely leave visible and lasting marks on the organization of the labor market in the future. The purpose of this approach is to investigate the wellbeing from the social and emotional perspective of the individual, considering relevant relational communication, emotional dimension, work intensity, organization, autonomy and work–life balance, customized in the context of teleworking. The information was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The wellbeing assessment was performed based on the correlation analysis and the regression analysis. The results of the studies reveal that the existence of adequate communication and work–life balance ensure the wellbeing of telework employees, while the increase in work intensity degrades it. Furthermore, good communication moderates the relationship between organizational skills and wellbeing. The comparative analysis of wellbeing in relation to the explanatory variables considered by including the gender and age perspective reveals the existence of different configurations, with specific signs and statistical meanings.

PurposeSmall sports clubs are the life-blood of particular communities, even though many are under-resourced and have difficulties in operating under an individualistic business model. Although coopetition (simultaneous cooperation and competition) has been recognised as a positive driver of performance, the complexities of this association remain under-researched. Consequently, grounded in resource-based theory and the relational view, the purpose of this current study is to examine the moderating roles of inter-firm conflict and competitive intensity in the coopetition–sales performance relationship.Design/methodology/approachAfter undertaking 25 field interviews, survey data were collected from 151 non-mainstream sporting clubs in New Zealand. This setting was ideal, since it hosts high-degrees of cooperativeness and competitiveness. After assessing the statistical data for all major robustness checks (including common method variance and endogeneity bias), the hypothesised and control paths were tested through a hierarchical regression analysis.FindingsCoopetition had a positive relationship with sales performance, but inter-firm conflict yielded a negative interaction effect. Surprisingly, this link was positively moderated by competitive intensity.Practical implicationsUnder-resourced entrepreneurs (like those in many small sports clubs) should consider cooperating with their competitors, as these strategies can assist them to improve their sales performance. However, they should be careful when engaging in such activities due to the considerable risk that rival firms could behave opportunistically, which might harm their performance. That being said, owner-managers are advantaged if they operate in sectors where there are lots of competitors because there is increased scope to collaborate with “complementary” and trustworthy rivals that can help them to achieve mutually-beneficial outcomes. Indeed, sporting governing bodies (including those that operate on a non-profit basis) should encourage their members to engage in coopetition due to these positive financial consequences.Originality/valueThis investigation contributes to the extant literature by evaluating the competitive forces affecting the link between coopetition and sales performance. Specifically, new evidence emerges on the circumstances where coopetition is (and is not) a performance-enhancing entrepreneurial strategy. Further, this investigation provides unique insights regarding coopetition among non-mainstream sporting clubs, adding new knowledge to the sports entrepreneurship literature. Moreover, by infusing resource-based theory with the relational view, stronger arguments feature how owner-managers can navigate the paradoxical forces that drive coopetition activities. This study ends with several practitioner implications, alongside a series of limitations and avenues for future research.

Background High‐precision radiotherapy, especially intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), requires stringent quality assurance (QA) owing to its complexity. Moreover, patient‐specific QA (PSQA) is essential to ensure accurate dose delivery. Purpose This study aimed to develop a centralized PSQA database and analytical environment to improve consistency, efficiency, and safety in QA processes across institutions. Methods A relational database was implemented using MOSAIQ Oncology Analytics, integrating structured input forms, statistical process control, and visualization tools. PSQA data from four institutions were collected and analyzed based on AAPM TG‐218. Results A total of 835 PSQA cases were analyzed across five disease sites. Statistically derived action and tolerance limits revealed interfacility variability. Visualization dashboards enabled detection of trends and outliers, supporting real‐time QA monitoring. Conclusions The system enhanced QA consistency, enabled benchmarking, and supported data‐driven improvements. Centralized QA databases are effective tools for advancing radiotherapy quality and safety.

Karst ecosystems, recognized as ecologically fragile systems, are characterized by vegetation-soil interaction mechanisms particularly vulnerable to wildfire disturbances. Understanding the post-fire coupling dynamics between vegetation and soil is crucial for guiding restoration in these vulnerable landscapes. This study investigated post-fire areas across five disturbance intensities (unburned, light, moderate, severe, extreme) in Jianshui County, Yunnan Province, China. We conducted a systematic analysis of soil physicochemical properties and herb diversity, and quantified the vegetation-soil coupling relationship using grey relational modeling. Key results reveal: (1) 21 herbaceous species were documented, with Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae collectively constituting 76.2% of the flora. (2) Across the fire severity gradient, herbaceous diversity demonstrated an initial increase followed by a subsequent decline. (3) Grey correlation analysis identified soil pH, total potassium, and phosphatase activity as primary drivers of herb community variation. (4) Vegetation-soil coupling coordination followed a U-shaped trajectory, achieving optimal synergy (0.84, Higher coordination) under extreme-severity burns and minimal coordination (0.71, Medium coordination) in severe burns. These findings underscore that moderate fire regimes can play a positive role in enhancing the vegetation-soil coupling effect. Furthermore, the strategic regulation of soil pH and potassium availability during restoration emerges as a critical lever for optimizing ecosystem recovery and enhancing resilience. This study provides valuable insights for developing targeted post-fire management strategies in karst regions.

PurposeThis work proposes that a multi-national service company (MNSC) needs to develop dynamic customer-oriented relational capabilities (DCRC), constituting dynamic service customization (DySC), dynamic customer integration (DyCI) and dynamic timeliness of service delivery (DyTSD) capabilities, to gain competitive advantage and performance in its internationalization efforts.Design/methodology/approachFor empirical validation of the framework, developed through qualitative interviews, this study includes multi-cross-sectional data from twelve countries, four each in the category of underdeveloped (Africa), developing (Asia) and developed economies (Europe). Covariance-based structural equation modelling is used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe study supports that DySC, DyCI and DyTSD capabilities have a significant positive influence on firm competitive advantage and performance across economies. The levels of competition intensity and regulatory restrictions, an outcome of the type of economy, have negative intervening effects, with varying intensities across economies.Practical implicationsThis work guides the internationalization service managers to leverage DCRC across national borders keeping the state of the economy into consideration.Originality/valueThis work proposes a model of DCRC, based on the Intangibility, Heterogeneity, Inseparability and Perishability (IHIP) service framework, that enables firms to derive competitive advantage and performance across economies with varying environmental conditions.

In an increasingly digital world, C-level information technology experts (CITEs) such as CIOs and CTOs are playing an increasingly indispensable role in leading IT initiatives. Despite this, recent research shows a lack of oversight by the board of directors over the IT function due to the “IT confidence gap” of directors with no IT expertise. This has resulted in the emergence of a recent trend of appointing CITEs to the board of directors. However, there is little research on whether such appointments result in value creation for the appointing firms. We use perspectives from agency and resource dependence theories to examine two value impacts of CITE director appointments to address this question. We suggest that CITE director appointments create signaling value by enhancing the firm’s ability to signal their intention to institute more effective oversight of the IT function and subsequently accumulate value in the form of share price reaction to appointment announcements. Correspondingly, CITE directors’ human and relational capital application also creates substantive value in the form of firm financial performance over a longer duration. Using an event study and hierarchical linear modeling, our analysis of 334 CITE director appointments largely supports our contention that the human and relational capital of CITE directors and their appointment in firms facing IT-related contextual conditions results in both a positive share price reaction and better firm financial performance over the long term. We conclude that appointing CITE directors with the appropriate capital under certain contextual conditions leads to firm value creation.

Internationalization is a strong challenge that firms have to face today. However, small and medium-sized family firms internationalize their business after consolidating their position in domestic markets. Family SMEs approach international markets usually through export activities. Considerable academic attention has been given to family SME export behaviour, however, the debate is still inconclusive. Therefore, more attention on family SME unique governance mechanisms may shed a new light on this issue. The paper analyses family SME export intensity by showing how the board of directors could provide assistance in the selection and implementation of this strategy. We explore whether, and to what extent, both formal and informal features of boards of directors ( dual governance ) influence family SME export intensity. This is explored in a sample of 101 Norwegian family SMEs. Export intensity is the dependent variable and hypotheses on the positive effect of independence in board behaviour (formal governance mechanism), relational norms and trust (informal governance mechanisms) are supported. The paper has substantial theoretical contributions and practical implications. The results show that formal and informal governance mechanisms can co-exist complementing and supplementing each other, thus positively influencing family SME export intensity.