The role of intermediary player in facilitating supplier interrelationships in project-based contexts

In complex project-based supply networks, temporary collaborations among suppliers often encounter relational challenges. In such settings, intermediary players have emerged as agents to facilitate supplier collaborations, which is critical yet underexamined. This study draws on social capital theory to examine the role of intermediaries and how they foster social capital between suppliers through structural, relational, cognitive dimensions. Adopting a case study with in-depth interviews as the data collection approach, a conceptual framework that illustrates how intermediaries facilitate bridging and enhance linking social capital among suppliers is developed. The findings contribute to understanding how intermediaries support collaboration and improve project delivery.