Developing human resource for the digitization of logistics operations: readiness index framework

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anchal Gupta ◽  
Rajesh Kr Singh ◽  
Shivam Gupta

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify factors that are important for logistics organizations from the perspective of manpower readiness for digitization of logistics operations. The study also prioritizes the identified factors and also evaluates the readiness index of manpower for the digitalization of logistics processes.Design/methodology/approachThe factors for manpower readiness are identified through literature review and analysis of a case study. Three major categories of factors are identified. These are organizational, behavioural and technological factors. Under these three major categories of factors, 18 sub-factors are identified. Thereafter, with experts' inputs, the factors are prioritized using Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Further, a case illustration of an Indian logistics company has been taken to understand the current processes, technical capabilities, manpower skills and organization culture. After the case analysis and expert inputs, the manpower readiness index has been evaluated by using graph theory matrix approach (GTMA).FindingsThe prioritization of manpower readiness factors has been done using Fuzzy AHP. Organizational factors are found to be the most important factors which require quick attention. Sub-factors that are most important for building competencies in the logistics sector are providing the right training on functional skill development (0.129), top management support and commitment for digitalization (0.117), and organizational culture for process digitalization (0.114), etc. Finally, framework for evaluation of manpower readiness index for logistics operations in the digital age has been illustrated for a case company.Practical implicationsIndian logistics companies can benchmark their readiness index with respect to the best in the industry. Based on the readiness index, logistics companies can analyse their position, gaps from best and worst and can also identify potential areas for improvement.Originality/valueThe novelty of the study lies in the development of a framework for manpower readiness for digitalization in the logistics sector. In literature, this field is very less researched and provides the scope for developing strategies for improving manpower competencies for Industry 4.0. Logistics companies can improve their performance by making their manpower ready based on results obtained for readiness index.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santanu Mandal

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the importance of supplier innovativeness (SI), top management support (TMS) and strategic sourcing (SS) in the development of supply chain (SC) resilience. The study also argues that organization culture (OC) strongly influences SI, TMS and SS in their importance in generating SC resilience.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a cross-sectional approach for collecting online-survey-based responses for evaluating the validity of the proposed associations. Respondents were chosen ensuring that they have sufficient exposure in SC operations in their respective designations. With two reminders, around 212 completed responses were received and analyzed using partial least squares in SmartPLS 2.0.M3.FindingsFindings suggested TMS as a positive enabler of SC resilience. However, although SI and SS had positive influences, they were not significant. The study argues that this may be attributed to the presence of OC as a strong precursor for SI, TMS and SS. The findings showed that OC is indeed a strong predictor of SI, TMS and SS.Originality/valueThe study has undersigned empirically the influence of OC in the development of SI, TMS and SS. The study is the foremost to acknowledge the influence of SI, TMS and SS on SC resilience.


2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (7) ◽  
pp. 1457-1491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Clohessy ◽  
Thomas Acton

Purpose Blockchain possesses the potential to disrupt and reshape a plethora of industries in the next decade. However, blockchain adoption rates in technology developed countries, such as Ireland, are relatively low. Motivated by blockchain’s potential to transform sociotechnical systems, the lack of systematic inquiry pertaining to blockchain studies from an information system perspective, the authors propose the following research question: “How do organizational factors influence blockchain adoption in organizations based in a developed country?” Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to elucidate the impact of organizational factors on the adoption of blockchain and the adoption of blockchain in companies based in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review was conducted, and the methods of qualitative content analysis were used to identify the most important technology–organization–environment (TOE) blockchain adoption factors. Organizational factors are often viewed as the most significant determinants of IT innovation adoption in organizations. Consequently, using a multiple-case study of 20 companies based in Ireland, the authors investigate how the top three organizational factors identified from the blockchain literature affected these companies decision to adopt or not adopt blockchain. Findings The literature review on blockchain adoption identified specific technological, organizational and environmental factors. Furthermore, the case study findings identified three patterns: top management support and organizational readiness are enablers for blockchain adoption, and large companies are more likely to adopt blockchain than small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The authors explain these patterns by examining the nature of blockchain and the characteristics of Ireland as a developed country. Practical and scientific contributions are also presented. Research limitations/implications This study makes several important scientific contributions. First, the findings revealed that top management support and organizational readiness are significant enablers of blockchain adoption. Ireland is recognized as a technology developed country; however, the findings in relation to top management support contradict existing IT adoption literature pertaining to developed countries. Second, previous IT innovation adoption literature suggests that organizations size has a positive influence on a company’s IT innovation adoption process. This study demonstrates that large organizations are more likely to not only adopt blockchain but are also more likely to conduct increased levels of blockchain research and development activities. Finally, and most significantly, the authors identified several patterns, which relate specifically to Ireland as a developed country that influenced the findings. These findings could hold particular relevance to governments and organizations of other developed countries in terms of accelerating blockchain adoption. Practical implications The findings about the low level of blockchain awareness and the lack of information pertaining to viable business use cases indicate that the Irish government could play a more significant role in promoting the benefits of blockchain technologies. Further, the findings could also encourage IT providers to formulate enhanced strategies aimed at disseminating information pertaining to blockchain technologies. Second, the positive influence of top management support and organizational readiness, particularly about core competencies, on blockchain adoption suggests that equipping managers with the requisite knowledge and skills will be crucial in adopting these IT innovations. Finally, organizations who adopted blockchain used cloud-based blockchain platforms and tools to overcome the constraints of their initial low levels of organizational readiness. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to identify specific TOE blockchain adoption factors. Further, the authors examine how the three most identified organizational adoption factors impact organizations decisions to adopt blockchain. Finally, the authors discuss how the resulting three patterns identified by examining the nature of blockchain and the characteristics of Ireland as a technology developed country.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng-Chung Chang ◽  
Tzong-Ru (Jiun-Shen) Lee ◽  
Szu-Wei Yen

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a model not only for determining the key factors in selecting optimal international express suppliers, but also for extracting the priority strategic suggestions of management for international express suppliers. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed model comprises two parts. The first part identifies suitable criteria for evaluating international express supplier by reviewing studies from 1989 to 2009, after which the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to determine the relative weights of the criteria. The second part adopts grey relational analysis to extract five priority managing strategies from which 16 strategies are developed based on three concern factors derived from the first part. Findings – The results show customers’ top three concerns when selecting international express companies. In addition, the results show the five priority strategic suggestions to international express suppliers. Research limitations/implications – The research has two major limitations. First, this study was conducted using a sample of companies operating in Taiwan. Thus, other countries such as Japan and South Korea should be examined in future research. Second, this study focuses on the application of fuzzy AHP techniques to identify key selection criteria and service strategies of international express suppliers. Other important aspects, such as performance evaluation and performance prediction in the selection of international express suppliers, were not involved in this study because of the limited research scope. Originality/value – The proposed model helps international express suppliers enhance their competitiveness and raise their customers’ satisfaction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safayet Rahman ◽  
Md Zahidul Islam ◽  
Annie Dayani Ahad Abdullah

Purpose The aim of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework of knowledge sharing for Bangladesh’s business organizations. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of previous literature, this paper proposed a framework for knowledge sharing. Findings This paper identified organizational commitment as a potential mediator for the relationship between organizational factors (organizational culture, leadership and structure) and knowledge sharing. In this paper, top management support and information and communication technology (ICT) support are also proposed as potential moderators that can affect knowledge sharing. Research limitations/implications This paper has identified several organizational factors to predict knowledge sharing. Future research with empirical evidence will validate this conceptual framework. Practical implications This paper will help business managers to understand knowledge sharing from a different perspective. Propositions of organizational commitment as a potential mediator and top management support and ICT support as potential moderators will provide managers with a better understanding of employees’ knowledge sharing behavior. Originality/value This paper adopted the general model of workplace commitment and integrated with organizational factors (organizational culture, leadership, structure, top management support and ICT support) to understand knowledge sharing for the business organizations of Bangladesh.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-431
Author(s):  
Safayet Rahman ◽  
Md. Zahidul Islam ◽  
Annie Dayani Ahad Abdullah ◽  
Wardah Azimah Sumardi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of organizational factors such as culture, leadership, structure and top management support on organizational commitment in Bangladeshi service sector.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on empirical findings administered on 217 managerial personnel in the service organizations based in Bangladesh.FindingsFindings of this study reveal that among the variables that are hypothesized in this study; team orientation, stability, transformational leadership, transactional leadership, decentralization, formalization and top management support have an influence on organizational commitment.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has identified and integrated factors that can influence organizational commitment in Bangladeshi service sector. Larger sample size including multiple country or culture may bring more explanatory power, comparability and increased generalizability.Practical implicationsThe outcome of this study will help business managers to identify and understand the organizational factors that can influence organizational commitment.Originality/valueThis study extends current research on organizational commitment by identifying and integrating the organizational factors and providing a simplistic model for the relationship between organizational factors and organizational commitment in the context of Bangladeshi service organizations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-87
Author(s):  
Sunil Kumar C.V. ◽  
Surya Hemanth ◽  
Srikanta Routroy ◽  
Ram Kumar Mishra

Purpose Dealers positioned at the downstream of the supply chains are those who can directly influence demand scenario for the manufacturer. However, manufacturer has to ensure that the influence is favorable by competitively fulfilling the anticipations of the dealers. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is focused on developing sustainable strategic relationships between manufacturer and dealer. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the basic requirements of the dealers expected to be fulfilled by a manufacturer are analyzed by applying fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and fuzzy Quality Function Deployment. The said approach is implemented in a case situation of a paint manufacturing company in India, and the results are analyzed to provide directions for the company to strategically align manufacturer–dealer relationships. Findings It was found that the case company has to focus mainly on promotions and advertisements, painters meet, and recognition offered to the dealers. Although pricing was also considered as one of the prominent aspects yet through competitive assessment the case company was found to be better off compared to its competitors. Research limitations/implications As the results obtained in the current study are specific to a manufacturing environment, they cannot be generalized for all the companies. However, similar approach can be adopted for analyzing the customer requirements in order to achieve dealers’ attractiveness and satisfaction. Originality/value The application of proposed approach assists a manufacturer to pursue right strategy to practice for achieving dealer attractiveness and satisfaction. This will definitely help the supply chain managers to have the right requirements of the dealers’ are fulfilled on priority.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1158-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Yadav ◽  
Milind Kumar Sharma

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a multi-criteria supplier selection model using fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) approach for a leading automobile company in India. Design/methodology/approach – FAHP approach followed by a sensitivity analysis has been used. Findings – In this study, a FAHP-based supplier selection model is proposed to provide useful insights in choosing appropriate suppliers in dynamic situations in order to enhance long-term relationship with them. Practical implications – This study proposes a supplier selection model for an automobile industry which often faces heterogeneous supply environments. This model may have a high acceptability where a large number of suppliers are available to supply the materials or provide the services. As analytic hierarchy process is the most widely used methodology for supplier selection, however, it becomes less efficient in case of inconsistencies observed in the data. However a FAHP-based approach may overcome this difficulty. Originality/value – It contributes to supplier selection process and points out the importance of supplier selection problem, especially in the context of multi-criteria decision-making in Indian scenario.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 931-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-Pin Fu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the factors that influenced the adoption of a Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) model by a retailer that is a lifestyle accessories chain, and a supplier that is a food manufacturer. Design/methodology/approach The study started with the construction of a questionnaire based on the factors of the theoretical framework of a Technology-Organization-Environment that were discovered through a literature review and distribution of the questionnaire to experts. The fuzzy analytical hierarchy process method was used to determine the weights (importance) of these factors. Findings The study found that among the top ten factors, two are the same for both the retailer and the supplier – “partner trust and communication,” and “support of top managers” – while the other factors differ. In addition, it was found that the supplier pays more attention to the environmental issues, while the retailer focuses on organizational issues when introducing a CPFR model. Practical implications This study offers five practical implications for the successful adoption of a CPFR model: first, top management support and trusting relationship building are important factors for both the retailer and the supplier; second, adoption of CPFR is a management issue, rather than a technological issue; third, retailers lead more successfully; fourth, a careful selection of collaborative partners is essential; and finally, an innovative model should be constructed. Originality/value The results can serve as a reference to help enterprises to better allocate their resources, according to the weights of the important adoption factors when they are formulating their strategies for the adoption of CPFR. Decisions based upon this guideline can increase the success rate of CPFR adoptions and can ensure better allocation of resources.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Marouf

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of organizational factors, such as the culture of trust, human resources (HR) practice and top management support on librarians’ attitudes towards knowledge sharing (KS), and the degree to which this attitude affects their perceived readiness to adopt knowledge management (KM). Design/methodology/approach A soft copy of the questionnaire was sent to 217 academic librarians in both public and private universities in Kuwait. A total of 150 valid responses were collected and tested using a structural equation model. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS and LISREL software to verify the research hypotheses. Findings The study found that apart from HR practices, all the other factors had significant effects on librarians’ attitudes towards KS. In addition, the attitude of librarians towards KS was found to significantly affect the readiness to adopt KM in academic libraries. Practical implications Findings should help libraries identify opportunities and barriers to adopting KM. Results indicate that strengthening the affecting factors, such as a culture of trust and top management support, lead to a more positive attitude towards KS and ultimately a better chance of success for any KM initiative that will take place in an academic library. Originality/value The primary research contribution is the conceptual model of the effect of the organizational factors of a culture of trust, HR practices and top management support on librarians’ attitudes towards KS, and the degree to which this affects their perceived readiness to adopt KM.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 116-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kriti Priya Gupta ◽  
Preeti Bhaskar ◽  
Swati Singh

Purpose Government employees have various challenges of adopting e-government which include administrative problems, technological challenges, infrastructural problems, lack of trust on computer applications, security concerns and the digital divide. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most salient factors that influence the employee adoption of e-government in India as perceived by government employees involved in e-government service delivery. Design/methodology/approach The paper first identifies different factors influencing the employee adoption of e-government on the basis of literature review and then finds their relative importance by prioritizing them using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool which combines all the factors into a hierarchical model and quantitatively measures their importance through pair-wise comparisons (Saaty, 1980). Eleven influencing factors of employee adoption of e-government have been identified, which are categorized under four main factors, namely, “employee’s personal characteristics”, “technical factors”, “organizational factors” and “trust”. The data pertaining to pair-wise comparisons of various factors and sub-factors related to the study is collected from ten senior government employees working with different departments and bodies of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Findings Based on the results obtained, the findings reveal that “organizational factors” and “technical factors” are the two most important factors which influence the intention of government employees to adopt e-government. Moreover, “training”, “technical infrastructure”, “access speed”, “technical support” and “trust” in infrastructure are the top five sub-factors which are considered to be important for the employee adoption of e-government. Research limitations/implications One of the limitations regarding the methodology used in the study is that the rating scale used in the AHP is conceptual. There are chances of biasing while making pair-wise comparisons of different factors. Therefore, due care should be taken while deciding relative scores to different factors. Also, some factors and sub-factors selected, for the model may have interrelationships such as educational level and training; computer skills and trust; etc., and these interrelationships are not considered by the AHP, which is a limitation of the present study. In that case, the analytic network process (ANP) can be a better option. Therefore, this study can be further extended by considering some other factors responsible for e-government adoption by employees and applying the ANP in the revised model. Practical implications The results of the study may help government organizations, to evaluate critical factors of employee adoption of e-government. This may help them in achieving cost-effective implementation of e-government applications by efficiently managing their resources. Briefly, the findings of the study imply that government departments should provide sufficient training and support to their employees for enhancing their technical skills so that they can use the e-government applications comfortably. Moreover, the government departments should also ensure fast access speed of the e-government applications so that the employees can carry out their tasks efficiently. Originality/value Most of the existing literature on e-government is focused on citizens’ point of view, and very few studies have focused on employee adoption of e-government (Alshibly and Chiong, 2015). Moreover, these studies have majorly used generic technology adoption models which are generally applicable to situations where technology adoption is voluntary. As employee adoption of e-government is not voluntary, the present study proposes a hierarchy of influencing factors and sub-factors of employee adoption of e-government, which is more relevant to the situations where technology adoption is mandatory. Also, most of the previous studies have used statistical methods such as multiple regression analysis or structural equation modelling for examining the significant factors influencing the e-government adoption. The present study contributes to this area by formulating the problem as an MCDM problem and by using the AHP as the methodology to determine the weights of various factors influencing adoption of e-government by employees.


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