Also the uncertainty of the market affects the manufacturer’s
willingness to develop a long-term relationship with the supplier because
manufacturers in a volatile resource market tend to be more hesitant towards
relationships with only a certain set of suppliers since these suppliers may not be able
to deliver satisfactorily in a fast developing market. Based on a case study of a
relationship between a major contractor and its largest supplier in the Swedish
construction industry, Fro¨dell and Josephson (2008) reported uncertainty as a major
variable characterising this relationship. Uncertainty was also concluded to be a reason
why higher flexibility may be commended in the relationship between buyer and
supplier in a construction context, although it often results in a higher total cost.