Value creation constitutes the essential purpose of a business relationship. However, limited research examines the role of relationship value in interfirm relationships in general and in international business settings in particular. This study develops a conceptual model that positions psychic distance, relational norms, and relationship learning as antecedents of relationship value, and relationship quality and performance as its key outcomes in international channel relationships. The study uses partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to test the model relationships. Comparing the findings of these two approaches provides an interesting basis for discussion on the importance and applicability of PLS-SEM and fsQCA. Furthermore, the results provide an important addition to the relationship value literature and an interesting discussion on the asymmetric versus symmetric relationships among the observations.

• Dionysios Skarmeas(Athens University of Economics & Business, Greece)
• Charalampos Saridakis(University of Leeds, UK)
• Constantinos N. Leonidou(University of Leeds, UK)