Chin-Shan Lu

LOGISTICS SERVICES IN TAIWANESE MARITIME FIRMS

This paper examines logistics services and strategic dimensions in Taiwanese (Republic of China, ROC) maritime firms. This is done by means of a review of previous studies and personal interviews; data collection has also included a questionnaire survey. A factor analysis and a principal components analysis were conducted in order to assess the degree of importance of a large number of service attributes and a small number of underlying dimensions called strategic dimensions (factors). The results revealed that the most important strategic dimension was value-added service, followed by promotion, equipment and facilities as well as speed and reliability. This research attempted to link the relationship between performance and logistics services. While the average profit rate, sales growth rate and return on assets of implemented logistics firms were higher in degree of importance than for non-implemented logistics firms, the difference was not statistically significant. The approach utilized in this research could be useful for shipping practitioners to improve their performance and to enhance their competitive advantage.

MARKET SEGMENT EVALUATION AND INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS

Abstract This paper evaluates the market segmentation of international distribution centers based on shippers’ service requirements. The paper’s findings suggest that cargo safety was perceived as the most important service attribute, followed by cargo tracing service, inland transportation, and customs clearance. These service attributes were used to classify users of international distribution centers into three segments, namely, consolidation and storage services oriented firms, cargo related services oriented firms, and support services oriented firms.

Segmenting manufacturers' investment incentive preferences for international logistics zones

Purpose – This study aims to empirically identify investment incentive preference segments for international logistics zones from the manufacturers perspective.Design/methodology/approach – Eight critical investment incentives were identified, based on the following factors: cost, agglomeration, resource, port, policy, political stability, location and transport, and economic. Cluster analysis was subsequently performed to group respondents on the basis of their factor scores. Three groups or segments were identified: firms that preferred political stability and location factors; those which preferred low‐cost and port‐related factors; and those which preferred agglomeration effect and resource factors. Six factors, i.e. cost, agglomeration effect, resource, port, policy, and political stability, differed significantly across the three segments.Findings – Results suggest that political stability is the most important incentive, followed by corporate tax incentives, government administration efficiency, l...

Factors influencing the use intention of port logistics information system by ocean carriers

This study empirically investigates factors influencing ocean carriers’ use intention toward a port logistics information system (PLIS). Data collected from a survey of carriers in Taiwan were used to test a structural equation model examining the relationships among top management support, cost of adoption, perceived benefit, perceived complexity, security concern, and use intention. The results indicate that top management support, cost of adoption, perceived benefits, and perceived complexity are the dominant factors explaining the use intention of PLIS by carriers. However, the influence of security concerns on use intention was not shown to be significant in this study. Theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings are discussed.