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Non-Compliant Work Behaviour in Purchasing: An Exploration of Reasons Behind Maverick Buying

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Abstract

Many organisations, both public and private, have established framework agreements with selected suppliers to benefit from purchasing synergies. Compliance to such contracts throughout the organisation is crucial to achieve the expected benefits. Yet, in most organisations, the purchasing of goods and services is carried out not just by the purchasing department, but by many individuals dispersed throughout the organisation. Such a situation of scattered responsibilities can easily set the scene for different types of non-compliant behaviours in terms of an organisation’s purchasing policies. Very little research has been conducted on non-compliant purchasing behaviour, also known as “maverick buying”. In this article, we use a systematic literature review to identify different forms of maverick buying, ranging from unintentional maverick buying to straightforward sabotage. We validate these different forms of maverick buying and enrich our understanding of underlying reasons through a series of in-depth interviews with purchasing professionals. We bring forms and reasons together in a conceptual framework and propose avenues for future research.

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Abbreviations

IT:

information technology

MB:

maverick buying

MRO:

maintenance, repair and operations

OB:

organisational behaviour

OMB:

organisational misbehaviour

PSM:

purchasing and supply management

TCO:

total cost of ownership

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Technology, Logistics, Helsinki School of Economics, Runeberginkatu 14-16, P.O.Box 1210, Helsinki, 00100, Finland

    Katri Karjalainen & Katariina Kemppainen

  2. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Burg. Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Erik M. van Raaij

Authors
  1. Katri Karjalainen
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  2. Katariina Kemppainen
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  3. Erik M. van Raaij
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Correspondence to Katri Karjalainen.

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Karjalainen, K., Kemppainen, K. & van Raaij, E.M. Non-Compliant Work Behaviour in Purchasing: An Exploration of Reasons Behind Maverick Buying. J Bus Ethics 85, 245–261 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9768-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9768-2

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