Showing papers in "Journal of Business Logistics in 2017"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a conceptualization of the growing phenomenon of crowd logistics, which is a novel way of providing logistics services that taps into the dormant logistics resources and capabilities of individuals, using mobile applications and web-based platforms.
Abstract: Patterned on crowdsourcing and crowdfunding, a new crowd practice has emerged in recent years: crowd logistics. In this paper, we propose a first conceptualization of this growing phenomenon. Crowd logistics is a novel way of providing logistics services that taps into the dormant logistics resources and capabilities of individuals, using mobile applications and web-based platforms. Although crowd logistics has been widely discussed in the business world, it has not yet been the subject of any academic publication. Following an exploratory case study approach, we review the websites of 57 crowd logistics initiatives around the world and highlight the main distinctive characteristics of crowd logistics, as compared to traditional business logistics. We introduce a segmented analysis in which crowd logistics solutions are classified according to four types of service offered. Finally, we introduce six theoretical propositions on the future development of crowd logistics. At a theoretical level, our findings contribute to enriching the service-dominant logic perspective in the logistics field by conceptualizing the crowd as a co-creator of logistics value. At a managerial level, our findings contribute to identifying which types of crowd logistics services are more likely to threaten or disrupt traditional business.
162 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a context and mechanism-based approach to MRT, outlining a process with guidelines for how to theorize at the middle range, and providing a template and examples of deductive and inductive MRT.
Abstract: Logistics has evolved from a description-based discipline to one based upon theoretical grounding from other business disciplines to define, explain, and understand complex interrelationships, resulting in the identification of the discipline's primary domain and major concepts—the “what's” of logistics. General theories, however, lack the domain specificity critical to understanding the inner workings within key relationships—the how's, why's, and when's—that drive actual outcomes. Middle-range theorizing (MRT) enables researchers to focus on these inner workings to develop a deeper understanding of the degree to and conditions under which logistics phenomena impact outcomes as well as the mechanisms through which such outcomes are manifested. This study seeks to spur logistics research at the middle-range level by presenting a context and mechanism-based approach to MRT, outlining a process with guidelines for how to theorize at the middle range, and providing a template and examples of deductive and inductive MRT.
108 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a research framework is introduced to address the nature of public-private short-term collaboration and its influence on supply chain resilience, focusing on the alignment and adjustment of potentially disparate organizational values (public/private) to establish collective responsiveness while facilitating the fulfillment of mutual goals for a single event and/or discrete repeat events.
Abstract: While contingency planning may provide a perspective for anticipating critical incidents, supply chain managers must develop competencies to address the long-term disruptions that stem from both natural and man-made disasters. The broad-reaching nature of disasters brings public and private entities together and often requires collaboration to revitalize disrupted supply chains. Leveraging supply chain governance logic through the dual lenses of resource management and competing values, a research framework is introduced to address the nature of public–private short-term collaboration and its influence on supply chain resilience. The largely unstudied concept of short-term collaboration is at the heart of a model focusing on the alignment and adjustment of potentially disparate organizational values (public/private) to establish collective responsiveness while facilitating the fulfillment of mutual goals for a single event and/or discrete repeat events. We offer research propositions pertaining to the model and conclude with a discussion of managerial implications and the dire need for future research.
64 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined how managers in manufacturing firms integrate internal supply chain activities using qualitative interview data and provided a detailed examination of the multidimensional nature of integration requirements, as well as an increased understanding of how integration mechanisms are used to manage different integration requirements.
Abstract: In response to globalization, diversification, and other organizational drivers, managers continue to seek organizational designs that promote integration. We study this phenomenon by focusing on requirements and mechanisms for internal supply chain integration (SCI). Using qualitative interview data, we examine how managers in manufacturing firms integrate internal supply chain activities. We elaborate and extend the information processing view by studying why organizations integrate (integration requirements) and how integration mechanisms are associated with different integration requirements. Four patterns of integration requirement–mechanism linkages emerged from our study, depicting integration mechanisms that are associated with a particular integration requirement, and those that are not. We provide a detailed examination of the multidimensional nature of integration requirements, as well as an increased understanding of how integration mechanisms are used to manage different integration requirements. These findings offer deeper insights into organizational integration, enhancing the understanding of integration in the context of internal supply chains, while also contributing to the literature on organizational design. For supply chain managers, these findings describe ways in which organizational design decisions can support internal SCI efforts with varying aims.
48 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a didactic treatment for executing moderated mediation analysis and provide guidance for detecting influential cases that can unduly affect results, and integrating what results should be reported.
Abstract: Theorizing and empirically testing moderated mediation hypotheses allows logistics and supply chain management (L&SCM) scholars to extend the boundaries of our current understanding by examining how, when, and why relationships arise between constructs central to our theories. However, while moderated mediation analyses can enrich theory in L&SCM, they are few in number, likely due to the complexities associated with their execution. In this article, we provide a didactic treatment for executing moderated mediation analysis. We do so using primary data regarding logistics involvement in new product development. In the hopes of spurring greater application of moderated mediation in L&SCM, we devise a series of recommendations that guide scholars through the process of conducting such analyses. These recommendations extend prior treatments by explaining how to address challenges associated with devising theories to undergird moderated mediation hypotheses, measuring constructs using multiple indicators, providing guidance for detecting influential cases that can unduly affect results, and integrating what results should be reported.
41 citations
33 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the effect of turnover on safety by embedding knowledge in carriers' routines using activity control, a formal management control mechanism, and find that high levels of activity control mitigate the negative effect of driver turnover on motor carrier safety in domains more under drivers' control.
Abstract: The trucking industry is the lifeblood of supply chains. Truck driver turnover and motor carrier safety are two salient issues affecting this industry. While turnover by itself presents a challenge due to the cost of replacing drivers, it takes on additional urgency because turnover may affect motor carrier safety. However, driver turnover research has focused predominantly on identifying factors affecting turnover, thus resulting in limited understanding of how turnover affects motor carrier performance, particularly with regard to safety. This reduces our ability to provide guidance to managers who have to address driver turnover. In this article, we extend prior research by drawing from several theoretical lenses to develop and test theory of the turnover–safety relationship. Furthermore, we investigate whether carrier managers can mitigate the effect of turnover on safety by embedding knowledge in carriers’ routines using activity control, a formal management control mechanism. We employ a longitudinal data set composed of primary and secondary data sources to test our hypotheses. We find the turnover–safety relationship is best characterized by a monotonic negative attenuated pattern and that high levels of activity control mitigate the negative effect of driver turnover on motor carrier safety in domains more under drivers’ control.
33 citations
TL;DR: The authors explored the antecedents of truck drivers' job satisfaction and identified the impact of financial and non-financial job properties on satisfaction with the job and with one's employer and the drivers' proneness to retaining their jobs.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to (1) explore the antecedents of truck drivers’ job satisfaction and (2) identify the impact of financial and non-financial job properties on satisfaction with the job and with one’s employer and (3) the drivers’ proneness to retaining their jobs. Based on the extant literature, we develop a conceptual model that is tested using survey data for 164 truck drivers. Multiple linear and ordinal logistic regressions were used to estimate the proposed effects. The results reveal that non-financial job properties and satisfaction with one’s employer affect job satisfaction statistically significantly. Financial and non-financial job properties affect satisfaction with one’s employer whereas the former shows a lower impact compared to the latter. Satisfaction with the job and one’s employer impacts retention proneness. The contribution of this paper is to (1) add to the understanding of the factors that predict retention of truck drivers in relationship to job satisfaction and (2) highlight the different roles of financial and non-financial job properties in this specific work context.
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate demand and revenue management of deteriorating inventory in flash sales markets (FSM) and develop a demand forecasting model that incorporates the effects of sentiments conveyed by consumers in discussion forum posts associated with different deals on the deals' empirical demand rates.
Abstract: In this study, we investigate demand and revenue management of deteriorating inventory in flash sales markets (FSM) Retailers operating FSM source excess inventories of products from secondary markets in fixed lot sizes and offer them as part of deals that get no replenishments and expire after running for predetermined periods (eg, 24 hr) or when they sell out, whichever occurs first We develop a demand forecasting model that incorporates the effects of sentiments conveyed by consumers in discussion forum posts associated with different deals on the deals’ empirical demand rates We then conduct a survival analysis to find that the empirical demand rates projected from our forecasting model are significant predictors of the deals’ actual time to stockout, even after controlling for their initial inventory provisions and markdowns We also find that the predicted effects of these demand rates on stockout times are stronger at low markdowns Our investigation offers insights into different strategies that sellers operating FSM can pursue to improve their inventory performance These strategies involve decisions that sellers must make both a priori, before deals start, and a posteriori, according to real-time detection of departures from projected demand rates as deals run their course
24 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a mixed-method approach is used to conceptualize intuition as a multidimensional construct consisting of experience-based, emotional, and automatic processing dimensions, and then operationalize and empirically assess multidimensionality using a multiple study format.
Abstract: Studies in the psychology and management disciplines suggest that intuition might be able to complement rationality as an effective decision-making approach. Yet, a review of how decision makers in supply chain contexts can benefit from using their intuition demonstrates that our discipline lacks a unifying conceptualization and operationalization of the complex intuition construct. Our study addresses this opportunity by following an extensive mixed-method approach, in which we first use qualitative content analysis and quantitative testing to conceptualize intuition as a multidimensional construct consisting of experience-based, emotional, and automatic-processing dimensions. We then operationalize and empirically assess multidimensionality using a multiple study format, and perform an inferential analysis to begin to assess nomological validity. Our reconceptualization of intuition allows for a richer understanding of this key facet of supply chain management decision making, and our accompanying scale provides evidence of its multidimensionality and efficacy in making decisions in the uncertain and time-constrained environments that supply chain managers often face.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an approach that utilizes specific TL economies gained by mixing multiple products with different weight-to-volume ratios, which is called economies of product diversity, was proposed.
Abstract: Collaborative logistics, also known as shipper collaboration, is a method of reducing the freight logistics cost of firms that produce and/or distribute tangible goods (shippers), which seeks to improve capacity utilizations of trucks. This study looks at this shipper collaboration problem in the U.S. truckload (TL) industry and proposes a new approach. Unlike other studies, which focused on reducing TL costs by utilizing economies of density, we present an approach that utilizes specific TL economies gained by mixing multiple products with different weight-to-volume ratios, which we call economies of product diversity. Using theoretical and empirical evidence, we show that the performance of shipper collaboration can be enhanced notably using this concept, economies of product diversity, which is currently overlooked in the literature.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors combine core principles from several theoretical traditions to propose a dynamic theory of motor carrier safety that specifies the longitudinal relationships between three core measures of safety publically reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: unsafe driving, hour of service compliance, and vehicle maintenance.
Abstract: Developing an understanding of the longitudinal relationships between different measures of motor carrier safety is important to advance theory and practice regarding this significant supply chain management and public policy issue. In this article, we combine core principles from several theoretical traditions to propose a dynamic theory of motor carrier safety that specifies the longitudinal relationships between three core measures of safety publically reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: unsafe driving, hour-of-service compliance, and vehicle maintenance. We test this theory using four years of longitudinal data on motor carrier safety for a random sample of large, for-hire motor carriers. Results from fitting a vector multivariate autoregressive moving average time-series model are largely consistent with the theory we propose. We describe the implications of our research for supply chain management theory and practice, summarize limitations, and suggest directions for future research.
TL;DR: In this article, a more comprehensive understanding of when it pays off for firms to deploy resources to achieve supply chain fit is provided, arguing that it is simplistic to assume that perfect fit will always lead to improved financial performance because the benefits generated by perfect fit might be offset by the resources deployed to achieve that fit.
Abstract: Research has emphasized the importance of matching products' characteristics with their supply chain design (i.e., supply chain fit). Fisher (1997) introduced the notion of supply chain fit and indicated that before developing a supply chain firms must consider the nature of the demand for their products. I expand on the Fisher (1997) framework by offering a more comprehensive understanding of when it pays off for firms to deploy resources to achieve supply chain fit. I argue that it is simplistic to assume that perfect supply chain fit will always lead to improved financial performance because the benefits generated by perfect supply chain fit might be offset by the resources deployed to achieve that fit. In order to execute this research I use archival and survey data to evaluate the moderating effects of six dimensions of environmental uncertainty (e.g., munificence, market dynamism, technological dynamism, technical complexity, product diversity, and geographic dispersion) on the relationship between supply chain fit and financial performance.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed that multimarket contact between buyers and suppliers is linked to their respective propensity to use three types of mediated power in their relationships (i.e., reward, coercion, and legal legitimate).
Abstract: Buyers and suppliers often have multiple business relationships with each other across different geographical and product markets, forming a potentially complex web of connections. What happens between the firms in one geographical or product market may influence their interactions in others. Prior research in strategic management has found that similar multimarket contact in horizontal relationships between competitors has important consequences for the firms’ use of market power. However, the consequences of multimarket contact in vertical buyer–supplier relationships remain unexplored. Building on resource-advantage theory, this study proposes that multimarket contact between buyers and suppliers is linked to their respective propensity to use three types of mediated power in their relationships (i.e., reward, coercion, and legal legitimate) and that the effects of multimarket contact differ between buyers and suppliers. A vignette study with 143 purchasing managers and 137 business-to-business sales managers tests the developed hypotheses. The findings show that a higher level of multimarket contact encourages suppliers to use legal legitimate power to a greater extent and encourages buyers to use reward power to a greater extent but legal legitimate power to a lesser extent.
TL;DR: In this paper, a consumer choice model of new product purchase and used product return was introduced to study how acquisition policies for used products as a source for a remanufactured consumer product affect system performance.
Abstract: We study how acquisition policies for used products as a source for a remanufactured consumer product affect system performance We introduce a consumer choice model of new product purchase and used product return, which is consistent with the classic Bass diffusion model of sales over time We capture new and remanufactured product sales, the evolution of the install base, and consumer return and repurchase decisions over the life cycles of new and remanufactured product Our analyses lead to two main findings on the acquisition policies First, if the buyback price is less than the margin of a new product, then a trade-in policy is likely to yield higher profit than a buyback policy Second, we show that the profitability is highest when the time lag between the introduction of a new product and initial demand for a remanufactured version of the product is at or near the sweet spot, which is the age of the product at which the costs of acquisition and remanufacturing are at minimum Further, when the time lag between the introduction of a new product and initial demand for its remanufactured version is near the sweet spot, then simple pricing methods are close to optimal
TL;DR: The Journal of Business Logistics encourages scholars to "get out ahead" of practice by identifying problems that truly matter to industry and to conduct those inquiries using state-of-the-art methods, such that relevance, rigor and impact are fully realized.
Abstract: Achieving impact in research is the goal of any singular article and for the journal, in total. This editorial helps to define how impact in scholarship and practice is achieved in the Journal of Business Logistics. We encourage scholars to “get out ahead” of practice by identifying problems that truly matter to industry and to conduct those inquiries using state-of-the-art methods, such that relevance, rigor, and impact are fully realized.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the multiple years of past performances of 262 mass transit agencies in the United States using data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist productivity index and then provided practical guidelines for enhancing mass transit efficiency.
Abstract: For more than five decades, the federal, state, and local governments have subsidized mass transit systems through sales, gasoline, and property taxes with an expectation that it would improve mobility to low-income citizens, reduce carbon footprints and traffic congestion, and facilitate regional economic growth. However, in times of financial crisis and chronic government budget deficits, the inefficient use of a mass transit system can increase public outcry over the wasteful spending of government funds and taxpayers’ monies. To find ways to utilize mass transit systems more efficiently across the United States, this paper aimed to identify the benchmark transit practices that every mass transit system can emulate and then continuously improve its performance. To achieve these goals, this paper analyzed the multiple years of past performances of 262 mass transit agencies in the United States using data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist productivity index and then provided practical guidelines for enhancing mass transit efficiency.
TL;DR: The CSCMP Annual Global Conference (AGC) and its Academic Research Symposium (ARS) as mentioned in this paper serve as the premier forums for advancing the state of the art in supply chain scholarship and reinforcing the discipline's traditions and values.
Abstract: Academic conferences serve the critical purposes of bringing together scholars to not only advance the state of the art in research, teaching, and practice, but also to socialize with established and prospective members of the academic society. In this way, conferences help to instill and reinforce the values of the academic society. Logistics and supply chain scholars are increasingly targeted to join in the dialogue of different academic networks and attend conferences in tangential disciplines. This editorial speaks to the growing affinity for logistics and supply chain scholars in different disciplinary settings, yet underscores the CSCMP Annual Global Conference (AGC) and its Academic Research Symposium (ARS) as the premier forums for advancing the state of the art in supply chain scholarship and reinforcing the discipline’s traditions and values.