4.4. Processual dynamism included in the model

The Möller and Wilson model as such does not have long-term dynamism built into the model, apart from the processual dynamism. This long-term dynamism in this context means the dynamic development of the relationship over time, i.e. over a longer period with numerous exchanges and events. This dynamism is added with the concepts from the Ford model that was explicated in Section 3.3.3. The model makes use of four stages that correspond as follows to the elements in the “Software contracting process” model elaborated above and showed in Fig. 26.

The Ford model’s pre-relationship stage corresponds to the prerequisites and formation of relationship element. Then the exploratory stage, development stage and stable stage are part of the interaction processes and output of interaction processes cycle as depicted with the grey thick arrows in Fig. 26. The possible change of the interaction processes as well as their contents and characteristics may change during the time when the relationship shifts from the exploratory stage, via development stage to the final stable stage. What the evolutionary path is and how it may change is one of the focal interest areas in this research.

Thus the main cycle of the model starts from the supplier and customer context entering the prerequisites and formation of relationship. If this process is successful then the parties continue into the minor and recurrent cycle consisting of interaction processes, output of interaction processes, moving through the supplier or customer context and again giving input to interaction processes. In some cases the relationship dissolves and the cycle ends in the dissolution of the relationship part of the model.