Deals that start when you sign them

Abstract This essay explores six sentences from Oliver Williamson – five providing context and the sixth central topic. Decades ago, asserted that: (a) ‘substantially same factors’ (1973: 316) create governance issues not only within organizations but also in interactions between organizations; (b) relational contracting might be useful addressing these both domains (1979, Figure II). More recently an informal conversation 2002 he suggested a perspective on that appears valuable of domains: contracts as ‘deals start when you sign them’. The bulk this past, present, potential research perspective.