Research On The Impact Of Dependence Asymmetry On Cooperation Performance In Epc Engineering Supply Chain

Given the different resource endowments,there is a common asymmetrical power dependence between organizations.It is normal that the status of participants are not completely equal and the degree of interdependence is inconsistent in the engineering supply chain cooperation.And this kind of dependence asymmetry is especially prominent in the relationship between general contractor and subcontractors.The difference in the degree of dependence determines the size of power.Different relative power will make the dominant party exert influence on the other party side and even implement opportunistic behaviors.The influence of dependence asymmetry between organizations on cooperation performance has been paid more and more attention.However,in the engineering field,there is little direct research on dependence asymmetry.The context of dependence asymmetry needs to be further enriched.In view of this,this study discusses the impact of dependence asymmetry on the EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance and examines the mediating role of subcontractors’ justice perception and the moderating role of explicit contracts based on the dual dependence characteristic and from the perspective of subcontractors.The specific research contents are as follows:Firstly,based on literature review and relevant theories of asymmetry dependence,equity perception and cooperation performance,the characteristics of dependence asymmetry between general contractor and subcontractors,the subcontractors’ justice perception and the EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance are deduced and summarized combined with the context of general subcontracting.Secondly,a series of assumptions and a theoretical model are proposed for the relationship among dependence asymmetry,subcontractors’ justice perception and EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance.On the basis of a large number of literature analysis and indepth discussion,combined with the EPC engineering supply chain context,the measurement scales of variables are designed.Data analysis and hypothesis testing are carried out through questionnaire distribution and data collection.The results show that:(1)dependence asymmetry has a negative impact on both project success and stability of cooperation in EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance;(2)Dependence asymmetry has a negative impact on the subcontractors’ distributive justice perception and procedural justice perception,and it has no significant effect on the subcontractors’ interactive justice perception;(3)Subcontractors’ distributive justice perception and procedural justice perception have a positive impact on EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance.Subcontractors’ interactive justice perception has no significant impact on EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance;(4)Subcontractors’ distributive justice perception and procedural justice perception have a partial mediating role between dependence asymmetry and EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance.Finally,the moderating effect of the explicit contracts on the relationship between dependence asymmetry and subcontractors’ justice perception is analyzed.The results show that an explicit contract can negatively moderate the relationship between dependence asymmetry and subcontractors’ distributive justice perception.It can also negatively moderate the relationship between dependence asymmetry and subcontractors’ procedural justice perception.But it cannot moderate the relationship between dependence asymmetry and subcontractors’ interactive justice perception.The article provides a new research perspective for EPC engineering supply chain management.The dependence asymmetry context is extended to the general contractor and subcontractors with dual dependence characteristic in the engineering field.The scope of dependence asymmetry research is enriched and the related researches of dependence in engineering field are compensated.In practice,it provides a useful reference for the establishment of long-term cooperative relationship between the general contractor and subcontractors and the improvement of EPC engineering supply chain cooperation performance.