The IKEA effect in supply chain relationships: mediating role of power types on supply chain sustainability

Purpose This study examines how the IKEA effect drives supply chain sustainability through referent and expert power in supply chain relationships in Korea. The IKEA effect is a phenomenon whereby people feel greater attachment to work they have contributed to, leading to higher performance. It seeks to contribute theoretical and practical insights to the supply chain management literature by specifying the joint development activities and collaborative efforts that influence how sustainability is affected through different kinds of power dynamics. Design/methodology/approach To verify the established hypotheses, this study conducted a survey targeting employees working in supply chain-related departments in Korea. In total, 300 questionnaires were included in the statistical analysis. A structural equation model was used to analyze the relationships among the variables via SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. Findings The study identifies several key findings regarding supply chain sustainability. The IKEA effect positively influences both referent and expert power; these powers positively impact supply chain sustainability; and both powers mediate between the IKEA effect and supply chain sustainability through trust, cooperation, knowledge sharing and experience. Originality/value Theoretically, this study is the first to apply the IKEA effect theory from consumers to business-to-business relationships in the supply chain management domain with a focus on sustainability outcomes. The study contributes uniquely to understanding the influence of collaborative activities on sustainable supply chains from a theoretical perspective, illustrating the mediating mechanisms of referent and expert power.