Abstract
The paper validates the relationship between satisfaction, trust and commitment in South
African business buyer–supplier relationships. Satisfaction was looked at from the dual perspective of
economic and non-economic satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach – A research model showing hypothesized relationships between the
constructs was tested using data collected from 250 large companies in South Africa. Structural equation
modelling using AMOS software was used to analyse the data. The results provide support for the
distinctiveness of both economic and non-economic satisfaction and the mediating effect of trust.
Findings – The findings show that economic satisfaction exerts a direct influence on trust, which in turn
has a direct influence on commitment. Trust and commitment were both found to have a positive influence
on non-economic satisfaction.
Research implications – The tested nomological network of business relationship quality dimensions
validates some of the recent findings by Ferro et al. (2015) in the South African context of buyer–supplier
relationships.
Originality/value – The study contributes to a better understanding of satisfaction and its relationship
with other relationship quality constructs, especially in the context of large companies in South Africa.