Exploring the Effects of Trust and Its Outcomes in B2B Relationship Stages: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Temporal dynamics in business-to-business (B2B) relationships are the evolution of B2B relationship stages. This study offers new insights in examining the impact of the temporal dynamics on firm performance during the B2B relationship stages. Drawing on B2B stage models, social exchange theory and the evolution of trust, the results show that the link between trust and firm performance weakens when a relationship between two parties reaches a particular stage. trust has a positive effect on firm performance in the same period; however, this positive effect decreases over time. Thus, the impact of trust on firm performance is insignificant in subsequent relationship stages in the start-up context. The impact of trust on firm performance is unstable and decreases over time. This study offers new theoretical and managerial insights regarding the temporal dynamics in B2B relationships.