01468nas a2200157   4500008004100000245008200041210006900123260000900192300003500201490000700236520090300243653001701146100001701163700001601180856011401196       2009                        eng d00aTriads in Supply Networks: Theorizing Buyer–Supplier–Supplier Relationships0 aTriads in Supply Networks Theorizing Buyer Supplier Supplier Rel  c2009  a8-25 JSCM Best Paper Runner-up0 v453 aPast studies in supply chain management have focused on dyadic relationships (e.g., buyer–supplier), as all relationships in a network begin with a dyad. However, dyads do not capture the essence of a network. We posit in this paper that triads are the fundamental building blocks of a network. To begin considering triads in supply networks, we build on two extant bodies of literature — the buyer–supplier relationship and supplier–supplier relationship literature which offer us the context of buyer–supplier–supplier triads. By doing so, we are taking the first step toward cracking the internal dynamics of triads in supply networks. To build theoretical propositions, we apply balance theory and the structural-hole concept. We identify nine triadic archetypes of buyer–supplier–supplier relationships and state key propositions that aid in decision making in supply networks.10aSupply Chain1 aChoi, Thomas1 aWu, Zhaohui  u/biblio/triads-supply-networks-theorizing-buyersuppliersupplier-relationships