Supplier Embeddedness and Relational Performance in Toyota Buyer Network in Uncertain Business Environments

Existing literature offers limited knowledge about the supplier embeddedness and relational performance in global buyer network under business environmental uncertainties. Therefore, this study first develops the empirical context, a part of Toyota’s corporate level buyer network that consists of 6,152 suppliers and 14,156 relationships and indicates changes in network patterns. This study invokes the social network theories and environmental uncertainty and supply chain literature. The study applies a hierarchical regression model to validate that environmental uncertainties moderate the positive relationship between supplier embeddedness and relational performance. Supplier firms should strategically position in buyer networks to adapt to environmental uncertainties.