Exploring urban institutional pressures on logistics service providers

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J Rose ◽  
Diane A Mollenkopf ◽  
Chad W. Autry ◽  
John E. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Starting Point

Purpose – As global populations become increasingly urbanized and urban areas grow in density and complexity, many firms seeking to operate in these areas face significant new challenges. The purpose of this paper is to identify the approaches utilized by urban logistics service providers to overcome the issues resulting from urban density and complexity. The paper also identifies potential directions for future research based on the research findings. Design/methodology/approach – The study followed a grounded theory approach (Corbin and Strauss, 2008) to uncover the approaches utilized by logistics service providers to adapt to urban environments. Findings – The urban environment exerts certain coercive and mimetic pressures on logistics service providers. To overcome these pressures, urban logistics service providers seek to manage space, resources, and legitimacy in the urban environment. Research limitations/implications – This research followed an inductive approach, and therefore, further empirical research is required to ensure statistical generalizability. Additionally, all research participants are currently employed in the USA, and so further research at the international level should be conducted. Practical implications – The framework presented will enable firms seeking to enter the urban market to more quickly adapt to the specific pressures of the urban ecology. Originality/value – While literature from several academic disciplines outline problems and solutions specific to urban areas, little qualitative, inductive research has been conducted in the field of urban logistics. The current research serves as a starting point for further urban logistics research.

Outsourcing in humanitarian logistics – status quo and future directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Gossler ◽  
Tina Wakolbinger ◽  
Christian Burkart
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

PurposeOutsourcing of logistics has great importance in disaster relief. Aid agencies spend several billion US dollars every year on logistics services. However, the concept of outsourcing has not been established adequately in literature on humanitarian logistics, leading to a fragmented view of the practice. This paper provides a holistic perspective of the concept by constructing a conceptual framework to analyze both practice and research of outsourcing in humanitarian operations. Based on this analysis, we explore future trends and identify research gaps.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a structured review of academic literature, a two-round Delphi study with 31 experts from aid agencies and a complementary full-day focus group with twelve experts from aid agencies and logistics service providers.FindingsThe paper systemizes the current practice of outsourcing in humanitarian logistics according to a conceptual framework of five dimensions: subject, object, partner, design and context. In addition, it reveals ten probable developments of the practice over the next years. Finally, it describes eight important research gaps and presents a research agenda for the field.Research limitations/implicationsThe literature review considered peer-reviewed academic papers. Practitioner papers could provide additional insights into the practice. Moreover, the Delphi study focused on the perspective of aid agencies. Capturing the views of logistics service providers in more detail would be a valuable addition.Originality/valueThe paper establishes the academic basis for the important practice of outsourcing in humanitarian logistics. It highlights essential research gaps and, thereby, opens up the field for future research.

scholarly journals Consumers' influence on the greening of distribution – exploring the communication between logistics service providers, e-tailers and consumers

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1177-1193
Author(s):  
Uni Sallnäs ◽  
Maria Björklund
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Gas Emission ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper takes its starting point in the possibilities consumers have to influence the greening of distribution. It focuses on three key actors who can facilitate consumer influence, namely e-tailers, logistics service providers (LSPs) and the consumers themselves. The purpose is to illuminate consumers' possibilities to influence the greening of distribution by exploring the communication between LSPs, e-tailers and consumers.Design/methodology/approachWebsite scans of the 40 largest Swedish e-tailers and ten LSPs were combined with interviews of three e-tailers and three LSPs.FindingsThe findings suggest that consumers at present have limited possibilities to influence the greening of distribution. One reason for this is the limited communication between LSPs, e-tailers and consumers. A gap in communication arises because e-tailers determine how to promote distribution alternatives on their websites, while it is the LSPs who develop and offer green distribution services.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides a first step in our understanding of what is needed in order to facilitate green distribution decisions from e-consumers.Practical implicationsE-tailers can gain an increased understanding of their important role as facilitators of environmentally sound decisions for consumers through their design of websites. This study also highlights the need for LSPs to support e-tailers in this work.Social implicationsThe study contributes to the societal striving towards zero greenhouse gas emission by focussing on decreasing environmental effects by using suitable logistics.Originality/valueIn contrast with previous research into the environmental impact of e-commerce distribution, this study investigates the possibilities consumers have to influence green logistics within e-commerce.

Service supply chain: from bibliometric analysis to content analysis, current research trends and future research directions

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramji Nagariya ◽  
Divesh Kumar ◽  
Ishwar Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Future Research Directions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to carry out the systematic literature review, bibliometric analysis and content analysis of extant literature of service supply chain (SSC).Design/methodology/approachSystematic literature review (SLR) technique was used for identifying the research papers. In the first step after reading titles, abstracts and keywords and, full-length articles wherever required, papers not related to SSC were removed. In second steps papers were read more critically and papers not related to SSC were removed. Finally on 502 papers bibliometric and content analysis was further carried out. Content analysis was based on the clusters formed by bibliographic coupling. Further, content analysis of the recent articles revealed the current research trends and research gaps.FindingsThis paper identified the six existing research diversifications in SSC as (1) logistics SSC, (2) model, framework and conceptual papers, (3) third-party logistics service providers, (4) articles from various perspective, (5) measurement of quality and performance on services and (6) impact of adoption of technology, cooperation and branding on logistics service providers. Further, six future research directions are also provided.Practical implicationsThis research provides a clear view of the progression of publication, research diversification, research themes of six identified clusters, sub-themes of clusters and content analysis of each cluster. Content analysis of recent articles reveals the current research trend and future research directions.Originality/valueThis is a first of its kind of study which presents the diversification of research areas within SSC, bibliometric analysis, content analysis and provides actionable future research direction.

The emergence of entrepreneurial team as a research field – way forward

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willy Das ◽  
Satyasiba Das ◽  
Manojit Chattopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Entrepreneurial Team ◽  
Research Stream

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review and critique the existing literature on entrepreneurial teams (ET) by taking a multi-disciplinary viewpoint and provide a future research agenda based on the identified themes and trends.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken using “business source complete”. Further scrutiny and application of exclusion criteria led to a final sample consisting of 139 papers from 27 different journals belonging to not just entrepreneurship and strategic management but also other disciplines like OB, finance, sociology, psychology, etc. Using qualitative thematic analysis, the authors identified 11 major themes.FindingsThe paper reviews both the eleven themes and the linkages between the themes. Thereby identifying areas that have been understudied and those that have received comparatively more attention. The review revealed that the research stream possesses certain conceptual and methodological concerns apart from its cross-sectional and primarily bivariate nature. Five such main concerns have been identified and discussed in detail. Other elements of the resulting research agenda include calls for more clinical process-oriented research, further attention to context, shifting the level of analysis, and a need to integrate across disciplines.Originality/valueThis paper incorporates a broad insight of ET across academic disciplines to show how future contributions could benefit by incorporating research from other fields. In doing so, provides a starting point for more nuanced discussions around the interrelationships between the different conversations that are taking place in the ET literature.

Logistics service providers’ engagement in disaster relief initiatives

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 269-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Cozzolino ◽  
Ewa Wankowicz ◽  
Enrico Massaroni
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution of logistics service providers’ (LSPs) initiatives to disaster relief and how LSPs are engaged with humanitarian sector. In recent years, the importance of logistics services in disaster relief operations and the capacity of LSPs to improve humanitarian supply chain management have become an increasingly interesting topic for both professionals and academics. Design/methodology/approach This research follows a qualitative approach based on multiple case studies. Findings The current research, after considering the differences and similarities among collaboration, cooperation and coordination and underlining how crucial these mechanisms are in the humanitarian context, explains the contribution of LSPs to relief operations alongside humanitarians. Research limitations/implications There has been increased interest in humanitarian logistics on the part of international academic and professional communities. This study constitutes a first exploratory step in the research to build a platform for benchmarking analysis of logistics services that aims to ensure the effective implementation of social responsibility principles. Practical implications The managerial implications arising from the research offer a range of current responsible actions from which strategic and operative directions to contribute can be derived. Originality/value Humanitarian logistics represents a crucial field in logistics management. This paper addresses the innovative socially responsible initiatives undertaken by the main international LSPs in the area of humanitarian logistics.

scholarly journals Environmental alignment between logistics service providers and shippers – a supply chain perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-605
Author(s):  
Maria Huge-Brodin ◽  
Edward Sweeney ◽  
Pietro Evangelista
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Sustainable Logistics ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

PurposeVarious suggested paths for greening logistics and supply chains often address the specific perspectives of single supply chain actors. Drawing on stakeholder theory, the purpose of this paper is to develop a deeper understanding of the alignment between logistics service providers (LSPs) and shippers in the context of adopting more environmentally sustainable logistics practices.Design/methodology/approachWith a case study approach, a dual perspective is taken in which both LSPs and shippers were researched. The cases comprise eight LSPs and six shipper companies in Sweden, Italy and Ireland. Information was first analysed in relation to levels of environmental awareness, customer requirements and provider offerings and critical success factors (CSFs) and inhibitors. In a second step, the findings were analysed using stakeholder theory.FindingsLSPs demonstrate higher ambition levels and more concrete offerings compared to shippers' requirements for green logistics services. Paradoxically, customers are an important CSF and also an inhibitor for both LSPs and shippers. Both LSPs and shippers perceive financial factors and senior management priorities as important CSFs. The application of stakeholder theory helps to illuminate the importance of the many secondary stakeholders vs that of one or a relatively small number of primary stakeholders.Originality/valueThe three-dimensional analysis of environmental alignment between LSPs and shippers reinforces existing knowledge and provides new insights. A novel use of stakeholder theory in a supply chain context underlines its usefulness in research of this kind.

Technology adoption by logistics service providers

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Mathauer ◽  
Erik Hofmann
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Technology Access ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Successful Integration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the effects of different technology access modes on the successful integration of technological innovations. From the perspective of logistics service providers (LSPs), theoretical and managerial implications for the process of technology adoption are discovered. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a structured literature review of the state-of-the-art in technology adoption by LSPs. Drawing on the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and absorptive capacity, the explorative case study research includes systematic analyses of ten technology projects conducted by seven different LSPs. Findings The findings illustrate that the technology access modes (make, buy and ally) prejudge the success of the integration process in terms of technology acceptance, as well as process quality, speed and costs of integration. This relationship is moderated by technology-, firm-, environment- and relation-related factors. Research limitations/implications The paper is limited by its qualitative research approach, only seven different LSPs were addressed. Furthermore, the scope of the investigated technologies is broad but not exhaustive. Practical implications For practitioners, research indicates that the way LSPs access technologies is highly related to a successful integration process. Therefore, the paper provides practical support for improving technology adoption. Originality/value As the link between LSPs’ technology access strategies and a successful integration process has been largely neglected thus far, this paper is the first contribution addressing this research gap. In this context, IDT and absorptive capacity are discussed for application to technology adoption in supply chain management research.

The role of customer relations for innovativeness and customer satisfaction

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bellingkrodt ◽  
Carl Marcus Wallenburg
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Customer Relations ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Number Of Customers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into commonalities and differences of service innovation across industries. The compared sectors are logistics service providers and IT service providers (SPs). Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 778 SPs via an online survey. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the empirical data. Findings – Both types of SPs benefit from close customer relations in terms of innovativeness and customer satisfaction. However, ITSPs rely more on a large number of customers to be innovative than logistics service providers (LSPs), further, LSPs can evoke a higher level of customer satisfaction when being innovative. Research limitations/implications – Empirical data were collected in a single country (Germany) and at one point in time. A confirmation of the results in different service settings is therefore encouraged. Practical implications – The results help managers with regard to their strategic decisions. The differentiating effects influencing innovativeness and customer satisfaction have been revealed. Originality/value – The research is extended by developing a model based on the knowledge of service innovation, social exchange theory and industry characteristics and by empirically testing this model.

scholarly journals Understanding the Adoption of Halal Logistics through Critical Success Factors and Stakeholder Objectives

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Abid Haleem ◽  
Mohd Imran Khan ◽  
Shahbaz Khan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Starting Point

Catering to Halal in the industry requires the explicit adoption of Halal Logistics (HL) to avoid the risk of cross-contamination and ensure that Halal products are safe, hygienic, nutritious, pure, unadulterated, and consistent with their labelling. We identify the need for meaningful research constructs relating to the appropriate adoption of Halal logistics through an extensive literature review. This paper identifies Critical Success Factors (CSF) and develops corresponding constructs that are fundamental for understanding the adoption of Halal logistics. This research also identifies the stakeholders involved and their objectives to facilitate the system design. As a starting point, from the existing literature, we adopt a structural model of CSFs to implement Halal Logistics. After that, this paper identifies and validates these CSFs with the support of extensive literature-based reviews, senior managers of Halal exporting organisations, Halal accrediting bodies, and professionals working in logistics and the cold chain. The research findings indicate that logistics service providers need to successfully upgrade their facilities to adopt Halal practices in their operations. Moreover, the role of governments is to reduce bureaucratic complexity so as to improve the ease with which businesses can implement HL. It becomes clear, from the analysis, that logistics service providers have the most prominent role in the effective adoption of the Halal supply chain. Consumers have a more prominent role than government support in the growing market of Halal products. This paper contributes to the identification of stakeholders’ objectives, which will facilitate the efficient adoption of Halal logistics and provide a direction for undertaking associated future work.

Competitiveness Improvement of Indonesian Logistics Service Providers a Conceptual Model and Future Research Framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1049-1052
Author(s):  
Darjat Sudrajat
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Customer Value ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Financial Strength ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
The Future ◽  
Innovative Capabilities ◽  
And Performance

Competitiveness has been a serious problem for Indonesia logistics service providers (LSP) particularly in the context of ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Conceptually, some previous researches showed that the competitiveness could be improved through innovative capabilities and performance improvement. Nevertheless, these researches related only two of the three variables, namely between innovative capabilities and performance, innovative capabilities and competitiveness, and performance and competitiveness. These researches did not explain that the performance can be a mediator (intervening) variable for relationship between innovative capabilities and competitiveness (relationships of three variables). Based on the gap, this research aimed to develop the conceptual model, hypothesis and its dimensions for the future research. By using explanatory research design, a conceptual model of competitiveness improvement, hypothesis, and its dimensions were developed to be verified in the future research. The dimensions of the three variables included financial strength, customer value, technology/skills, shareholder value (competitiveness); profitability and growth (performance); sensing capability, combination capability, and relational capability (innovative capabilities).

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