Opportunism,governance structure and relational norms: An interactive perspective

Opportunism in inter-firm partnership has intrigued scholars and managers, and existing research has identified several governance structural dimensions as antecedents of opportunism. However, most have looked at these one by one. This study examines the effects of interactions between the dimensions of bureaucratic structure (formalization and participation) and relational norms (solidarity, role integrity, and mutuality) on opportunism among channel members. The results indicate that the interaction between formalization and solidarity enhances opportunism, while interaction between formalization and role integrity reduces opportunism. On the other hand, while the interaction between participation and solidarity reduces opportunism, participation's interaction with role integrity and mutuality seems to enhance opportunism. The implications of these findings are discussed in detail in the study.     

Asset specificity roles in interfirm cooperation: Reducing opportunistic behavior or increasing cooperative behavior?

Extant research offers two alternative mechanisms for relating the asset specificity of a cooperative relationship to partnership performance. Transaction cost economics argues that the specific assets invested in a partnership increase the hazards of opportunism. As firms select appropriate governance structures to reduce opportunistic behavior, performance increases. On the other hand, relational exchange theory suggests that asset specificity enhances the trust between partners, which in turn leads to more cooperative behavior and higher partnership performance. This paper tests both mechanisms simultaneously on a sample of procurement relationships between Hong Kong trading firms and their Chinese suppliers using SEM methods. Our results support the predictions of relational exchange theory more than those of transaction cost economics. The paper also discusses the role of the Chinese context on theory application.     

如何利用社会关系来有效控制机会主义行为——基于外部环境不确定性的调节作用研究

由于契约的不完备性以及权力使用所存在的局限性,文章以中国情境下最为典型的治理手段--社会关系（包括商业关系和政府关系）为切入点,深入探讨了其对机会主义行为的影响。同时,治理手段的有效性是取决于作用情境的,因此,文章进一步讨论了行业环境与法律政策环境不确定性的调节作用。通过对172个企业间关系样本的分析发现：（1）经理人的商业关系和政府关系都可以有效地抑制机会主义行为;（2）随着行业环境不确定性水平的提升,经理人的商业关系和政府关系对机会主义行为的抑制作用会增强;（3）而随着法律政策不确定性的提升,经理人的商业关系对机会主义行为的抑制作用会增强,而政府关系对机会主义行为的抑制作用会减弱。文章结论对于如何有效地利用经理人的外部社会关系来抑制机会主义行为有着重要的理论和实践意义。     

Opportunism in Buyer–Supplier Relations: New Insights from Quantitative Synthesis

After more than two decades of empirical research examining opportunism, a wide divergence of empirical findings regarding opportunism's antecedents remains. The need for more theoretically practicable and managerially actionable insight into the identity, nature, and scope of the antecedents to opportunism is clear. As such, a meta-analysis of the opportunism literature was conducted to (a) investigate the role of six antecedents (dependence, formalization, centralization, control, uncertainty, and relational norms), (b) resolve the disparate relationships' magnitudes and directions, and (c) identify moderators that might explain the disparate effect sizes. Findings suggest extant research findings are affected by socially desirable response bias; the particular operationalization of constructs, for example, whether measured opportunism is actual or perceived or whether the study omitted key antecedents; and whether the sample included firms offering products or services. Theoretical and managerial implications are developed and discussed.     

Government role,governance mechanisms,and foreign partner opportunism in IJVs

Although institutional environments are important determinants of transaction costs in IJV management and performance, prior studies have paid limited attention to their impacts on partner opportunism. Building on institution theory, this study examines how the characteristics of the host country government affect IJV foreign partner opportunism. The authors posit that host government resource dependence and policy uncertainty increase foreign partner opportunism, and their impacts are constrained by formal (i.e., contract specificity) and informal (i.e., shared vision) governance mechanisms, respectively. The empirical results from a primary survey of IJVs show that contract specificity is effective in curtailing the effect of resource dependence on foreign partner opportunism. In contrast, shared vision weakens the effect of policy uncertainty on foreign partner opportunism. These findings provide important research and managerial implications on how to manage foreign partner opportunism in IJVs.     

Toward understanding passive opportunism in dedicated channel relationships

The investments made in an interfirm relationship have implications for the effectiveness of an agreement. In this study, we investigate whether these investments influence the level of passive opportunism observed in a relationship. Whereas transaction cost theory suggests that firms that make idiosyncratic investments are reluctant to engage in opportunism, reactance theory offers logic suggesting that such investments may increase the likelihood of opportunism. In addition, we investigate whether perceived justice influences the effect of investments on levels of passive opportunism. Data from 120 retail managers in the Norwegian consumer electronics industry support reactance theory predictions and indicate that interactional justice moderates the relationship between specific assets and passive opportunism. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for theory and research.     

Sustaining relationships after opportunism and misunderstanding: the role of formalization and socialization

This study compares the effects of governance mechanisms on relationship continuity in the aftermath of exchange interruptions in interfirm relationships. We propose that cooperative relationships can be renewed by matching governance mechanisms (formalization or socialization) to specific types of exchange interruptions (opportunism and misunderstanding). Using data collected from two types of senior managers in 304 buyer firms in China (a total of 608 senior managers), we found that the effects of formalization and socialization on relationship continuity are contingent on exchange interruption type. Socialization is more effective than formalization in renewing relationships when the level of opportunism is high, while formalization works better than socialization when the level of misunderstanding is high. Based on our findings, we encourage firms to diagnose exchange interruption types and then choose a proper governance structure.     

A closer look at co-movements among stock returns

Correlation among financial assets is widely recognized; however, the mechanics of the relationship are not well understood. This paper investigates the microstructure of the co-movement of stock returns. The goal is to improve our understanding of correlation among stock returns by examining the conditions under which asset returns co-move on an intra-day basis. The methodology combines a traditional lead–lag model with a modified or pseudo-error correction model. Empirical evidence is presented to suggest the speed of adjustment between paired asset intra-day returns is a function of asymmetric information. Specifically, the wider an asset's spread, the faster the asset will converge to the intra-day returns of other similar assets. This result is consistent with partial adjustment model presented by Chan (Chan, K. (1993). Imperfect information and cross-autocorrelation among stock prices. The Journal of Finance:1211–1230.) which suggests market makers gain from monitoring other market makers in periods of uncertainty.     

The moderating effects of customer driven complexity on the structure and growth relationship in young firms

Close exchange relationships with customers are recognized as important for young firms. In fact, close partnerships with customers provide many advantages, such as innovation, opportunity recognition, reputation, etc. The current paper argues that customers with their close exchange relationships create significant complexities for young firms that require effective structural response. Based on past work on customer driven complexity, four parameters of customer driven complexities were conceptualized: customer variability, customer opportunism, customer-interaction variability, and customer-interaction specificity. Using both archival and survey data from 134 young (6 year old or younger) firms, this study tests the moderating influences of customer driven complexity variables on the relationship between structure and growth of young firms. Findings support the suggestion that more formalization and less delegation of authority at the customer interface significantly contribute to the growth in young firms. However, the positive relationship between formalization and revenue growth is found to be weaker when young firms face a higher level of customer variability and stronger when firms face a higher level of customer opportunism. Similarly, the negative relationship between delegation of authority and revenue growth is weaker when these firms face either a higher level of customer-interaction variability or a higher level of customer-interaction specificity.     

THE OPTIMAL LIFETIME OF ASSETS UNDER UNCERTAINTY IN THE RATE OF EMBODIED TECHNICAL CHANGE

I investigate the effects of uncertainty regarding the rate of embodied technical change on the lifetime of assets using a model where: (1) technical change increases continuously the productivity of producers’ durables, (2) potential competition induces firms to pass all benefits from productivity improvements to consumers, and (3) the mean and the variance are considered sufficient statistics to describe the probability distribution of technological change. I find that in general this type of uncertainty shortens the optimal lifetime of assets. However, the robustness of the results under alternative specifications of the probability distribution of technological change remains an open question.     

ASSET DEMANDS AND SLUTSKY EQUATIONS WHEN ALL ASSETS ARE RISKY

This paper exploits the properties of the indirect expected utility function to explore the testable implications of a portfolio model in which all assets are risky. An uncertainty analogue of Roy's Identity and extremely simple derivations of Slutsky equations for risk and return are used in the analysis. Substitutability/complementarity relations between asset pairs are also explored. The one-riskless-asset case emerges as a special case of the present model, and it is shown that (since inflation uncertainty makes all real returns uncertain) the inclusion of a riskless asset would lead to misleading over-simplifications.     

Technological opportunism and firm performance: Moderating contexts

Technological opportunism is a sense-and-respond capability of firms with respect to new technologies. This research examines the effect of technological opportunism on firm performance from the dynamic capabilities' perspective, and how such an effect depends on relevant firm and/or market contingencies. Analyzing data from a variety of Taiwanese manufacturing industries, the authors find that technological opportunism has a positive effect on firm performance. The technological opportunism–firm performance link is negatively moderated by market orientation and network externality, and positively moderated by technological turbulence. These results confirm the underlying theme of the dynamic capabilities approach to technological changes and contextual (environmental and organizational) relevance. The finding that technological opportunism and market orientation fail to produce any synergistic impact implies that technological opportunism is a more influential source of a firm's competitive advantage.     

Yours,mine, and ours: A user-centric analysis of opportunities and challenges in peer-to-peer asset sharing

The sharing economy is growing globally in terms of user numbers, service providers, and novel concepts. Peer-to-peer (P2P) asset sharing, or asset rental between private individuals, has attracted the attention of entrepreneurs and researchers alike. P2P asset-sharing networks need to focus on two distinct customer groups: (1) asset owners willing to rent out their assets, and (2) renters interested in renting others’ assets. Despite consumers’ high interest in P2P asset sharing, participation rates lag projections, which is mainly attributable to lack of participating asset owners. This could be problematic for P2P networks as they do not own assets; instead, they rely on a sufficient number of asset owners to participate. Detailed indications on the participation motives of users are required to distinctly position P2P asset sharing and enhance communication of consumer-relevant benefits. To this end, we have engaged in a detailed investigation of participation motives in the P2P car-sharing context. We have conducted in-depth interviews with car owners and renters to derive usage types that represent consumer decision profiles that participate in P2P car-sharing services. Based on our findings, we provide extensive recommendations to entrepreneurs in the P2P asset-sharing market.     

Foreign direct investment as a strategic linkage

This article studies the pattern of Taiwanese foreign direct investment (FDI) in light of strategic linkage theory. Measuring the level of proprietary asset by technological capability and scale of operation, we found that firms possessing higher levels of proprietary assets invest in more advanced host countries. Through FDI, higher levels of proprietary assets are linked to higher levels of strategic assets, which in turn enhance the technological and marketing capabilities of investing firms. Firms better endowed with proprietary assets are also shown to be more inclined to make multiple investments and more capable of investing in countries which are psychologically and geographically distant from Taiwan. In contrast, firms with low levels of proprietary assets seek linkages to nonstrategic assets in a single country which is psychologically and geographically close to Taiwan. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

资产专用性、不确定性与交易的治理模式——基于农业龙头企业与农户间交易的实证研究

交易的治理模式包含正式的合约治理与非正式的关系治理两种,影响治理模式选择的因素很多,其中不确定性和资产专用性是被广泛讨论的两个主要因素,但关于他们的作用却仍然没有统一的研究结论。本文利用来自农业龙头企业与农户间交易的数据,试图在这一特定情境下,对不确定性与资产专用性将如何影响交易的治理模式进行分析。研究发现,相对合约治理来说,农业龙头企业与农户间的关系治理能够更好地应对资产专用性和不确定性带来的风险;而农业龙头企业投入的物质资产专用性的增加也应该伴随着更多的合约治理。本文的研究结果对我国农业龙头企业和农户合作的治理模式选择有一定的实践指导意义。     

Firm size effects on transaction costs

Associated with effects of scale, scope, experience and learning there are effects of firm size on transaction costs; in the stages of contact, contract and control. These effects are due to threshold costs in setting up contacts, contracts and governance schemes, and to differences with respect to the factors that cause transaction costs: bounded rationality, opportunism, uncertainty and transaction specificity of assets. Implications are considered for firm strategy and public policy.     

Environmental Antecedents of Channel Opportunism

While the notion of opportunism has intrigued marketing channel researchers for almost two and a half decades, our understanding of the antecedents of opportunism is still unclear. Specifically, while literature has suggested several antecedents to opportunism, including environmental uncertainty, none of the extant studies have gone deeper than the broader construct of environmental uncertainty. This study examines the relationship between the feeling of uncertainty attributed to competitive environment and opportunism in marketing channels. Using the data collected from managers responsible for distribution channel management, this study finds that while unfairness in competitive environment results in opportunism, severity of competitive environment does not. In fact, competitive severity results in a stronger sense of trust in channel members. The implications of these findings for channel managers are also discussed in this study.     

Governance decisions for the offshore outsourcing of new product development in technology intensive markets

This study addresses how buyers organize their offshore outsourcing new product development relationships. Building on transaction cost economics and resource dependence theories, we propose a model of the influence of key new product development offshore outsourcing factors on two important buyers’ governance decisions (i.e., supply concentration and degree of supplier involvement). The antecedents, drawn from the marketing, management, and international business literatures, include: three sources of asset specificity (degree of modularity, strategic value of the project, and technology specificity) and two sources of uncertainty (cultural distance and technological discontinuity). The results, derived from an analysis of 200 offshore outsourcing new product development relationships, provide new insights for academics and practitioners.     

奈特不确定下资产定价消费模型的建立

在不确定条件下进行资产定价是金融学中的一个重要问题。受金融市场的时变性和人的参与,通常情况下很难得到如收益、利率、波动率等某些变量的精确估计值,现实金融市场中不仅存在概率意义上的不确定性,还存在模糊性,在实际投资中如何对不确定性给出正确的建模就变得非常重要。把不确定性理论引入到传统的资产定价模型中,通过引入不确定性惩罚因子和熵函数建立奈特不确定条件下的最优消费和投资组合模型,能够同时反映随机不确定性和模糊性,可满足投资者的需求。该模型是对经典模型的一种自然推广,它可以适用于不同类型的市场,不同类型的个体,有较好的适用性。     

A Jump/Diffusion Consumption-Based Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Equity Premium Puzzle

This paper derives the equilibrium excess returns on risky assets in an exchange economy where the underlying exogenous uncertainty is a combination of a pure multidimensional jump process and a diffusion model. We derive closed-form solutions for the interest rate and the risk premiums on risky assets for a traditional class of separable utility indices. Our analysis demonstrates that when the underlying jumps of the aggregate consumption process are not negligible, then the traditional form of the consumption-based capital asset princing model need not hold and the asset risk premiums may be larger than predicted by the traditional CCAPM in continuous time, based on pure Itô diffusion processes. Our analysis suggests an explanation for the large estimates of the risk premiums reported in empirical tests of the single-beta CCAPM.