The main objective of this thesis is to explore the role of supplier
development in the context of buyer-supplier performance from a buying firm's
perspective. In the current research, a survey was conducted on 142 electronics
manufacturing companies in Hong Kong arid the results were analyzed. Factor
analysis yielded eight factors including transaction-specific supplier development
and seven infrastructure factors of supplier development: strategic goais, effective
communications, long-term commitment, top management support, supplier
evaluation, supplier strategic objectives, and buyer trust in the supplier. Correlation
analysis indicated that transaction-specific supplier development and its infrastructure factors significantly correlated with the perceived buyer-supplier
performance outcomes.