Figure 1
The process flowchart shows five stages of partnership development connected in sequence: Awareness, Exploration, Expansion, Commitment, and Dissolution. Awareness includes Partner Identification, Early Information Cues, and Risk Assessment. Exploration includes Implementation of Governance Mechanisms, Information Sharing, and Norm Cultivation. Expansion includes Increasing Trust and R S I s and Reduced Uncertainty. Commitment includes Mutual Trust and Value Creation, Contractual Commitment, and Interdependence. Dissolution includes Conflict and Disruption, Contractual Violations, and Broken Trust. Arrows connect each stage, illustrating the progression of partnership relationships over time.Exchange relationship lifecycle
Source: Author’s own work; adapted from the stages model (Dwyer et al., 1987; Frazier, 1983)