Sustainability and Competitiveness of Logistics Services Providers in Indonesia

With the rise of competition and challenges for Logistics Service Providers (LSP) in Indonesia, competitiveness and sustainability are needed. The research explored the logistical process and identified the factors that built the competitiveness of LSP, such as Third-Party Logistics (3PL) in Indonesia. The research also identified the factors and relationships of their competitiveness and sustainability. The research methodology was explorative with the qualitative-observation approach. The applied sampling technique was purposive and snowball. The participants were 10 LSP operating in Indonesia: Kühne + Nagel, FedEx, Damco, DB Schenker, APL Logistics, Panalpina, Agility Logistics, TNT Express, Röhlig Logistic, and Rhenus Logistic. The data were unstructured interviews with 10 middle managers with the job position of leader and manager. Then, the data were analyzed using NVivo 10 software. The result is the recommendation of the competitiveness model for 3PL that the providers can apply to achieve its sustainability. Moreover, the factors that drive the competitiveness of LSP are price, service, people, and network. Meanwhile, innovation and credibility will improve competitiveness toward sustainability of 3PL. Based on the findings, it can offer opportunities for further research on the relationship and influence of these variables on other similar companies in other countries.

Demographical Analysis and Cultural Characteristic to Attract Japanese Tourists to Indonesia

Japan is one of the biggest international tourist contributors to Indonesia. However, in recent years, there is a negative growth. It is caused by the demographical change of the Japanese population and outbound. Hence, research about the cultural ethnicity and social conditions affecting international travelers' behavior in tourism activities is needed. The research focused on the segmentation and strategies to attract foreign tourist which Indonesia would carry. The applied research method was a qualitative descriptive approach that utilized secondary data, such as demographical data and cultural characteristics. Data were taken from the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Indonesia, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, World Bank, and Statistics Bureau of Japan. Then, those data were analyzed by a descriptive statistics method. The result intends to formulate a strategy to seek more potential tourist growth from a Japanese market. The result shows four strategic efforts that Indonesia can take to maximize the potential for the arrival of foreign tourists from Japan. The government can consider the increased number of “silver age” and adult female workers (Joshitabi), which dominate the travelers’ segment to Indonesia, and pay attention to air connectivity and unique cultural characteristic of Japan.

Factors Affecting the Perceived Effectiveness in Preventing the Transmission of COVID-19 in Indonesia: Integrating the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Belief Model

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease declared a pandemic worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose of the research was to look at the factors in public health behavior that affected the effectiveness of preventing the transmission of the COVID-19 based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Health Belief Model (HBM). The research was a correlational study. The research applied a purposive sampling method, with 483 respondents coming from various islands in Indonesia. Based on the analysis using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), TPB factors like individuals' behavioral intention to follow COVID-19 preventive measures are significantly affected by subjective norm and perceived behavior control. On the other hand, personal attitude does not significantly affect an individual's behavioral intention to follow COVID-19 prevention steps. HBM shows an individual’s behavior intention to follow the COVID-19 preventive measures is significant and directly affected by perceived severity, perceived barrier, perceived self-efficacy, and cues to action. Meanwhile, the perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits do not significantly and directly influence an individual's behavioral intention to follow the COVID-19 preventive measures. The findings from the research can be used to evaluate the effectiveness in several countries in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dividend Policy as Moderating Variable to the Consumer Goods Company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

The capital market in Indonesia includes many companies from several sectors. One company that cannot be separated from the Indonesian stock market is a consumer goods company. The research aimed to analyze the effect of profitability and capital structure on the company with dividend policy as moderating variable to the consumer goods companies registered on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the period of 2014-2018. The population in the research was consumer goods companies with subsector of food and drink, cigarette, cosmetic pharmacy, and household goods and appliances. The research applied purposive sampling and obtained 15 companies with 5 years of observation or around 75 samples. Then, the data were analyzed using Smart PLS 3.0. The analysis result shows that profitability, capital structure, and company size positively and significantly influence the company value. However, dividend policy cannot moderate the effect of profitability and capital structure on the company value. The dividend policy can moderate the effect of company size on the company value. Then, profitability, capital structure, and company size influence the company value of 88,6%, while the other factors influence the rest. Investors should decide on issuers with high profitability above 5%, the optimal capital structure with the debt-to-equity ratio between 0,8-1,2, and total assets above five trillion Rupiah.

Risk Management of Training Services in PT MMK

One of the business training services that is rapidly grown is at the Occupational Health and Safety (Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja (K3)) training services. PT MMK is a K3 training service company that has been developed since 2016. However, PT MMK faces some risks in its business activities. There are various problems and potential risks faced by PT MMK, so it needs a business risk management observation. The research aimed to identify and analyze the level of risk faced by PT MMK by applying a quantitative method. The primary and secondary data were used. Sampling was carried out by using non-probability techniques with purposive sampling through the expert judgment approach. There were eight respondents in the research. Meanwhile, the applied analytical methods were Cochran analysis and Godfrey risk map. The result shows that based on four divisions, PT MMK has 30 internal risks and 8 external risks. There are 4 low-level risks, 14 moderate-level risks, 19 high-level risks, and 1 extreme-level risk. Based on the highest risks, PT MMK should do detailed budgeting, so there is no over cost based on the previous training budget. Moreover, the company can also expand its market share to the other companies by offering its training.

Investigating Brand Switching on Cosmetics Products: A Case Study of Nu Skin

The rapid development of the cosmetics industry and the high competition in the cosmetics market in Indonesia impact consumers. The market has many available choices of cosmetics products, and this situation causes many consumers to switch brands. The research aimed to analyze the suitability of Sharia about cosmetics products from Nu Skin and the factors that influenced the brand switching of the cosmetics product with multi-level marketing. The research applied a quantitative and descriptive approach. Data collection from respondents was carried out with a structured questionnaire. The respondents were consumers who had bought and used Nu Skin products. Around 150 respondents were selected through the purposive sampling method. Then, the researchers used the LISREL software. The connection between the variables was investigated by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings indicate that Word of Mouth (WOM) and marketing mix significantly influence the brand image of the cosmetics products. Similarly, religiosity and marketing mix have a significant influence on brand attitude. Then, brand image and brand attitude have a significant effect on brand switching. However, religiosity has no significant effect on brand switching. For marketing practitioners, the results can be considered in terms of marketing strategy in consumers’ habits of accessing social media to read product reviews from their friends who have used Nu Skin products before. The more people review and recommend the products to others, the higher the consumers’ interest is in buying Nu Skin products, and the smaller the intensity is involved in brand switching behavior. The research offers a new insight regarding the influencing factors of brand switching of halal cosmetics products through multi-level marketing.

Effect of Capital Structures on Firm Value with Sales Growth and Return on Sales as Control Variables in Consumer Goods Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

One of the attempts taken by the management to maximize the value of the company to compete with its rivals is decision-making related to capital structure strategy. The research sought to determine the effect of Short-Term Debt (STD) on Total Assets (TA), Long-Term Debt (LTD) to Total Assets (TA), and Total Debt (TD) to Total Assets (TA) on firm value by using return on sales and revenue growth as control variables. The research was correlation research to observe the relationship between one variable and various other variables. The sample was consumer goods companies, especially food and beverage sub-sector manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2015 to 2018. With a purposive sampling technique, there were 15 companies out of a total of 27 companies that met the criteria. Data were obtained from the Indonesia Stock Exchange website in the form of financial reports and closing prices. Then, structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Based on the analysis, there are several results. First, STD to TA and LTD to TA have a negative and significant impact on firm value. Second, TB to TA has a negative but insignificant impact on firm value. Third, sales growth has a positive and negligible effect. Last, return on sales has a negative and substantial effect.

The Role of Omnichannel and Experiential Marketing to Build Brand Association in ZAP Clinic

The development of online commerce, popularly known as online stores, has rapidly changed people's lifestyles. Lately, online shopping trends do not mean that offline stores are no longer prioritized, especially in beauty clinics that sell their services and products. ZAP Clinic Indonesia is a beauty clinic focusing on offline and online sales to increase the company's brand equity. The research aimed to determine and analyze the effect of omnichannel and experiential marketing on brand association using the Customer-based Brand Equity (CBBE) method. The research applied a quantitative approach with a sample size of 101 respondents. The respondents were the consumers who had visited and tried the services and products of ZAP Clinic in Surabaya. The sampling technique was accidental sampling with a questionnaire as the instrument. Then, data were analyzed using the multiple regression analysis method to determine whether omnichannel and experiential marketing affected the brand association at ZAP Clinic. The results show that omnichannel and experiential marketing have a positive effect on brand association. Experiential marketing has a dominant value to create a stronger positive association. Moreover, omnichannel will boost the creation of brand association about ZAP Clinic through the marketing campaigns and delivering new experiences related to technology usage in skincare treatment.

Market Orientation, Transformational Leadership, Partnership Effects on Organizational Performance: Competitive Advantage as a Mediator

Market orientation, transformational leadership, and partnership strategy effects on organizational performance mediated by competitive advantage in non-profit private universities are not widely discussed and well understood. The research aimed to describe the implementation of market orientation, transformational leadership, and partnership strategy, competitive advantage, and organizational performance. The research also analyzed the effects of the independent variables (market orientation, transformational leadership, and partnership strategy) and intervening variable (competitive advantage) on the dependent variable (organizational performance). The research applied a quantitative method. The respondents were 38 rectors or vice-rectors from private universities using simple random sampling. The data were analyzed using the PLS technique. The results show that all independent variables have positive effects on competitive advantage, except partnership strategy. Competitive advantage also has a positive effect on organizational performance. The practical research implication is that human resources in universities must have excellent service-oriented. They need to communicate well and coordinate to deliver better service to the students to be competitive and achieve better performance. In conclusion, to increase the university performance, the university leaders need to encourage all employees and faculty members to deliver the best service to the stakeholders of the universities and coordinate well across units to discuss issues and share ideas to solve the problems they have in service delivery. Then, the employees and faculty members will know what to improve and provide, and private universities will be much more competitive because of their reliable resources and capabilities.

The Impact of Bank Indonesia Regulation No. 17/3/2015 on Exchange Rate: Analysis Using Vector Error Correction Model (VECM)

The weakening of the Rupiah against the US dollar has encouraged Bank Indonesia to issued Bank Indonesia Regulation (Peraturan Bank Indonesia - PBI) No. 17/3/2015. The research aimed to analyze the factors that affected the Rupiah exchange rate, the effect of PBI No. 17/3/2015 on the movement of the Rupiah exchange rate, and the behavior of exchange rate movement to the shocks on the variables that influenced it. The research applied secondary data, namely monthly data from January 2008 to April 2019 taken from reliable sources such as National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Bank Indonesia (BI), and Statistics Indonesia (BPS). It was explanatory research with a quantitative approach. The studied data were processed with the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) method to identify long and short-term effects. The results of the long-term equation show that export-import has a negative effect on the exchange rate. Similarly, inflation has no significant effect on the exchange rate. Then, the money supply has a significantly negative effect on the exchange rate. However, the interest rate of Bank Indonesia positively affects the exchange rate. Next, the implementation of PBI No. 17/3/2015 has a significant and positive impact on the exchange rate. Last, the crisis condition does not affect the changes in exchange rates.