The formation of initial trust in the strategic supply chain partnership

While firms within a supply chain environment share resources and information with other partners, an initial level of trust is needed for the formation of collaborative alliance. Despite the attention given to the role of trust in supply chain literature, only a limited number of studies have been done on the formation of initial trust in the supply chain. The purpose of this article is to develop a theoretical base for the formation of initial trust in strategic partnerships in the supply chain. It is important for firms in a supply chain to have a clear assessment of the level of trust they have in their partners, especially when firms do not have any previous relationships with them. Key variables have been defined and their role on the formation of initial trust has been explained. Future research needs are also outlined.