Reviewing Global Relational Governance Research from 2002 to 2020

ABSTRACT Purpose Relational governance has been attracting more and more attention in this century. Current research in relational governance field mainly discusses the impact of relational governance on exchange performance, the interrelation between relational and formal governance, etc. However, the limitation of the existing research in relational governance research subfield is that fewer studies have conducted a review-based study to assess global relational governance research. In other words, an attempt at research looking backward, the status quo, as well as looking forward toward research frontiers and openings for future research on global relational governance is almost nonexistent. To attempt to fill this opening, this study aims to review the global relational governance research from 2000 to 2020 combining quantitative analysis (bibliometric analysis) with qualitative analysis (content analysis). The objective of this study is as follows: 1) to look backward to discern the status quo of relational governance research from 2000 to 2020; and 2) to attempt look forward the research frontiers and opening s for future research; 3) to derive and propose a basic framework in this field. Methodology As a literature review based on the bibliometric methods, it is important to look back at papers which have been published in the past by presenting and analyzing the massive literature data. Furthermore, it is critical to propose trends that are emerging in this research field. That’s to say, both forward looking and backward looking are necessary. Accordingly, we adopted a four-step workflow consisting of data collection, descriptive analysis, quantitative analysis, and qualitative analysis complementing the results of quantitative analysis. That is to say, this paper in lock step manner combines quantitative analysis with qualitative analysis to look backward uncovering status quo of global relational governance research from 2000 to 2020, and to attempt to look identifying research frontiers and openings for future research. Especially, in quantitative analysis section, by using the tool of CitespaceV, we can objectively look backward the research hot topics and look forward research trends and frontiers initially. Subsequently, the qualitative analysis complementing the results of quantitative analysis, aims to further look backward the research topics which are important but ignored in the quantitative analysis and look forward research openings in relational governance research field. By this mean, we can draw a relatively objective and comprehensive conclusion on global relational governance research. Findings Using the data gathered from the WOS core collection database, we looked backward the status quo, and looked forward the research openings on global relational governance research. As for the status quo, the influential countries and institutions, pivotal scholars, key documents, hot topics, research trends, and frontiers were identified. With regard to the journals, Industrial Marketing Management and Journal of Business Research were the most influential journals in relational governance research field. The performance of Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing was also excellent. As for the academic performances of different stakeholders, countries such as England, USA, Spain, Australia, and China made great academic contributions to relational governance research. Institutions consisting of University of London, City University of Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong and University of Wisconsin System had the prominent influence. In term of authors, Laura Poppo and Kevin Zheng Zhou had the prominent impact in this research field. Through document co-citation analysis in quantitative analysis, top 3 literatures in terms of the importance of degree of all the literatures were found. As for research hot topics, ten research topics were identified by the quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis: the integration research combining formal governance with relational governance, the impactful factors of relational governance, the effect of relational governance, the norm and dimension of relational governance, supplier-manufacturer relationships/supply chain management, IT/outsourcing, (complex) projects, China, alliance, and commitment. With regard to research frontiers, three research frontiers including behavior, complementarity, and absorptive capacity were detected by quantitative analysis. Additionally, three stages of relational governance research were concluded by comprehensive induction: the first phase (2002–2008) covering the norm and the effect of relational governance, and the second phase (2009–2013) extending of research scope and objective, and the last phase (2014–2020) representing the research frontiers of relational governance research. Furthermore, three research opening s lacking of investigation and required further research were identified, including concerning how and when relational and formal governance are related, the “dark sides” of the relational governance and the research from the perspective of psychology. Originality The present research is the first that investigates the global relational governance research status quo and offers researchers a comprehensive and deeper understanding in relational governance research field. The findings can offer a more comprehensive and deeper understanding on the research status quo, “hot” topics, research trends and frontiers of global relational governance research from 2000 to 2020 and research opening for future research. Consequently, the present research represents a contribution in business marketing theory development and inter-organizational relationship management.