Page 12 - Logistics News Sept / Oct 2018
P. 12
Opinion
Interpersonal relationships:
Not always a bed of roses
By Wesley Niemann, wesley.niemann@up.ac.za
A recent study has found a dark side to the interpersonal relationships between
senior managers of supply chain partners.
STRONG INTERPERSONAL relationships chain partners, based on a recent study they
between senior managers of the different conducted on 3PL service providers and the
organisations participating in a supply chain buyers of their services. The study uncovered
can have significant advantages for the four main areas of concern that may let senior
supply chain as a whole, including improved managers tread carefully when it comes to
performance, increased collaboration and establishing and developing interpersonal
greater trust. Naturally then, senior managers relationships with managers of supply chain
should be committed to the development partners.
of deeper interpersonal relationships with The study found that the majority of
supply chain partners. the senior managers who participated
Supply chain experts Arno Meyer, Wesley in the study have entered the personal
Niemann and Theuns Kotzé at the University relationship purely in their own professional
of Pretoria have, however, found a darker interest with the other party, indicating that
side to the interpersonal relationships that senior managers may not always have their
exist between senior managers of supply organisations’ sole interests at heart. Hidden
10 September/October 2018 | Logistics News
