Figure 1
The process is divided by a dashed horizontal line into empirical and theoretical sections. The theoretical section begins with prior theoretical knowledge. Step one, data collection, connects it to importance of supplier-buyer relationships in the empirical section. Step two, theory matching, connects this to choice of I N A as theoretical lens. Step three, data collection and analysis, connects this to challenges to S M E purchasing in relation to sustainability outcomes. Step four, theory matching, connects this to purchasing models. Step five, data collection and analysis, connects this to importance of employee involvement as users. Step six, theory matching, connects this to decentralised purchasing models.Research process
Source: Authors’ own work