The nature of relationships within supply networks and their role in the delivery of services in East Asian emerging markets

Service industries are significant contributors to global economic growth. The service sector contributes more than 70 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in most advanced markets (AMs) and approximately 40 per cent of GDP in emerging markets (EMs) (Ostrom et al., 2010; Park and Shin, 2012). Thus, service industries are steadily increasing their contribution to the global economy (Javalgi et al., 2003). Australian service exports to EMs in Asia, for example, grew at an average pace of about 20 per cent per annum over the five-year period from 2008 to 2012 (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade [DFAT], 2013).