The nature of interfirm partnering in supply chain management

This paper conceptually integrates the antecedents and consequences of stra tegic and operational partnering. We suggest a continuum exists from strate gic to operational partnering depending on the level of antecedents, orient ation, and implementation. This paper, thus, expands the theory of partneri ng by providing an inclusive picture of the "partnering" phenomenon with th e environmental pressures, antecedents, orientation, implementation, and co nsequences of strategic and operational partnering for vertical relationshi ps within retail supply chains.