Effects of Relational and Mandatory Influence Strategies on Sales Representatives and Headquarter Trust

Purpose – This study examines the effects of the influence strategies on sales representative and headquarter trust, and investigates how sales representative trust plays a mediating role in the relationship between influence strategies and headquarter trust. For these purposes, a structural model which consists of several constructs was developed. In this model, influence strategies that consist of relational influence strategies (information exchange, recommend, promise) and mandatory influence strategies (legal plea, request, threat) were proposed to affect the sales representative trust and in turn, increase the headquarter trust. Thus, this study proposed that sale representative trust plays a core mediating role in the relationship between relational and mandatory influence strategies and headquarter trust in B2B food materials distribution context. Research design, data, and methodology – For these purposes, the authors collected the data from 208 B2B specialized complex agents. We used the 2,200 B2B specialized complex agents which trade with CJ, Ottogi, and Daesang firms and supply food materials to restaurant, school cafeteria, supermarket and traditional market as a sample frame. Once we identified 330 B2B specialized complex agent owners, CEOs, and/or Directors who had agreed to participate in this study, we dropped off a questionnaire at each B2B specialized complex agent and explained the purpose of this study. The survey was conducted from October 1, 2015 to December 15, 2015. A total of 230 questionnaires were collected. Of these collected questionnaires, 28 questionnaires excluded since they had not been fully completed. The data were analyzed using frequency test, reliability test, measurement model analysis, and structural equation modeling with SPSS and SmartPLS 2. Results – First, information exchange, recommendation, and promise of relational influence strategies had positive effects on sales representative trust. The t