Tie Strength and Learning: Relative Role of Recipient and Giver Perceptions of Relational Norms

Inter-organizational relationship research on learning and asymmetric perceptions have so far evolved independently, despite potential for shedding greater insights on the dynamics in the relationships. We integrate these two research streams to explore the nature of association between tie strength and organizational learning. In particular, taking the notion that perceptions of partners about their relationship could vary, we examine the relative importance of perceptions of a knowledge recipient and its connected knowledge giver on the recipient’s learning from the relationship. The data collected using surveys from a sample of 130 buyers and their matched suppliers was complemented with archival data. Analysis of this data broadly supported our theoretical framework. These findings have implications for research on inter-organizational relationships, social networks and learning.