Inter-?rm relations have undergone profound changes since the 1980s, with the development of subcontracting, the take up of new organizational practices, and increasing use of information technology. The aim of this article is to link up these different changes from an empirical point of view, drawing on the results of the COI-TIC 2006 survey. The authors look at whether ?rms in subcontracting relationships have more commitments to meet for their client ?rms or demand more from their suppliers, with regard to deadlines, quality standards and/or computerization. They differentiate between ?rms according to their position in the subcontracting relationships, and then examine the speci?cities of those situated at the centre, compared to those either upstream or downstream of the production process. They also differentiate between ?rms according to their dependence on their clients or suppliers. The results indicate that subcontracting goes hand in hand with more commitments with regard to meeting deadlines and applying quality standards, and that the ?rm's position and its dependence on a few clients or suppliers result in varying corporate marketing strategies.