Abstract:

While the business relationship was explored at an inter-organizational level, there is little theoretical and empirical research at an individual level and the problem of relationship antecedents at an individual level is explored in the literature selectively. The objective of this paper is to speak out in a discussion about antecedents of business relationships at an individual level and to indicate further directions for research in this field. The aim has been achieved through the critical literature review. The literature studies lead to conclude that in the field of relationships antecedents at an individual level there is a need: a) to confirm the existing literature findings in an empirical way, b) to extend the research especially in the area of antecedents of businessperson’s dark sides at an individual level, c) to synthetize the knowledge about relationships antecedents at an individual level, d) to develop specific measurement scales that capture the relationships antecedents at an individual level. Based on the critical analysis of literature there were asked the following research questions to which answers should be sought in the future: Q1: what is the comprehensive collection of business friendship antecedents at an individual level?, Q2: which aggregate constructs describe business friendship antecedents?, Q3: what is the comprehensive collection of businessperson attitude antecedents at an individual level?, Q4: which aggregate constructs describe businessperson attitude antecedents?, Q5: what are the micro-foundations of a businessperson attitude?, Q6: are the micro- foundations different depending on the people generation?, Q7: what are the predispositions antecedents of exchange entities to change their relationship attitude and behaviour?, Q8: what are the antecedents of relationships’ dark sides at an individual level?   There is presented only a limited list of research questions in the field of business relationships antecedents at an individual level. 2) There is a study and critical analysis of the selected publications.