| Abstract: | Contrary to most extant relationship research which has relegated communication to a minor relational role, we found communication to be a central relationship variable. Communication's importance arose in a qualitative stage of our research which involved four manufacturer-retailer case studies. To affirm communication's central relational role, we tested the link between relationship governance and communication in a quantitative study of 280 retailers of the manufacturer's product, and found a positive link. Additionally, to aid future research in this area, this study brought together measures of communication from several U.S. studies and tested them in their totality. |
