David B. Grant

Developing environmental supply chain performance measures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review extant literature and present a proposed research agenda to examine whether environmental, i.e. green performance measures, can be integrated within an existing supply chain performance framework, explore what a meaningful industry‐recognised environmental measure should look like, and understand the direct benefits of incorporating environmental measures within a supply chain performance framework.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an extensive literature review in four key areas: performance management, supply chain performance management, environmental management and benchmarking.Findings – The literature suggests there is an opportunity to explore the relationship between the environment and logistics and that environmental supply chain performance measurement (SCPM) should enable organisations to more effectively benchmark their supply chain environmental performance. A framework incorporating these notions and a research agenda for em...

Developing a framework for measuring physical distribution service quality of multi‐channel and “pure player” internet retailers

Purpose – Many traditional retailers use the internet as a complementary business channel and thus sell products through multiple channels. In contrast, “pure player” internet retailers only sell products via the internet. A proliferation of pure players over the past few years has intensified competition in the online shopping market and the question of who is better at offering physical distribution service quality (PDSQ), multi‐channel retailers or pure players, is open to debate. Despite PDSQs importance in an electronic commerce environment there are few studies to date and most have focused on general service quality of internet shopping. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this phenomenon and posit a conceptual framework for further investigation.Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews the literature to develop variables and constructs for investigation following the first stage of Churchills paradigm for scale development, which are presented in a framework based on the concept of o...

Using fourth‐party logistics management to improve horizontal collaboration among grocery retailers

Purpose – There is a paucity of literature considering horizontal collaboration among grocery retailers, suppliers, and third‐party logistics (3PL) providers. This paper seeks to investigate benefits of and barriers to the use of fourth‐party logistics (4PL) management as a catalyst for horizontal collaboration.Design/methodology/approach – Three suppliers, three logistics service providers (LSPs), and one grocery retailer participated in semi‐structured interviews for this exploratory qualitative study.Findings – Large LSPs can establish 4PL management but the significant investment required to do so is a deterrent. Interviewees believed 4PL would negatively influence the grocery retailer‐supplier dynamic but simultaneously would provide key potential benefits. Retaining supply chain control means more to grocery retailers than cost efficiencies realised through horizontal collaboration.Research limitations/implications – Fierce competition among major grocery chains means that most are unwilling to part...

Service quality and its relation to satisfaction and loyalty in logistics outsourcing relationships

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how perceived service quality influences both a shippers satisfaction and subsequent loyalty in third‐party logistics outsourcing relationships.Design/methodology/approach – Critical service dimensions are identified and their impact on satisfaction and loyalty are developed into a theoretical model, which in turn is examined empirically using structural equation modelling from a survey of 235 industrial companies in Finland.Findings – The results support the satisfaction‐loyalty model in a logistics outsourcing context confirming that service perceptions influence loyalty through a shippers overall satisfaction with the service provider.Research limitation/implications – The empirical study is limited to Finland and data were collected before the financial crisis of 2008‐2009 which affected the economy and this industrial sector. The theoretical constructs and model also need to be validated and tested further across a wider empirical context.Practi...

A framework for purchasing transport services in small and medium size enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for purchasing transport services to enable small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to improve relationships with logistics service providers (LSPs) and enhance their own competitive advantage and profitability. Many SMEs lack competence in purchasing transport services and a subsequent lack of “purchasing power” may cause SMEs to be treated as “order takers” rather than “order makers” by LSPs, who have more leverage in the purchasing process.Design/methodology/approach – This research stemmed from a knowledge transfer research project between the focal company and a university comprising a longitudinal single case study using action research for developing and implementing the framework.Findings – A framework using several tools for purchasing transport services and improving transport performance has emerged from this research. Benefits from using this framework were enjoyed by both the focal company and its LSPs and the focal company improv...

Physical distribution service quality in online retailing

Purpose – Many traditional retailers use the internet as a complementary business channel while “pure player” retailers only sell products via the internet. The question of who is better at offering electronic physical distribution service quality (e‐PDSQ) is open to debate. But, despite e‐PDSQs importance there are few empirical studies and most have focused on general service quality of internet shopping or web site design. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and empirically test a conceptual framework for e‐PDSQ from the consumers perspective.Design/methodology/approach – This paper follows a two‐stage paradigm for scale and construct development, which is presented in a framework based on the concept of order fulfilment as a key driver in e‐PDSQ. Consumer postal surveys were conducted in Edinburgh, UK.Findings – The consumer survey confirmed the appropriateness of the adopted e‐PDSQ framework. The finding that price is the most important online purchasing criteria is in accordance with Verdict w...

An empirical examination of the contribution of capabilities to the competitiveness of logistics service providers: A perspective from China

Purpose – This paper aims to report on an investigation of logistics service provider (LSP) capabilities and how these capabilities contribute to LSP competitiveness in the context of China.Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on work from economics and strategy on firm‐level competitiveness, particularly the resource‐based view, to develop and empirically examined 13 firm‐specific capability constructs based on a survey of Chinese LSPs.Findings – Exploratory factor analysis and factor analysis regression indicated all 13 constructs are critical to a Chinese LSPs competitiveness and are interlinked in contributing to it. The findings also revealed the most critical capability is service quality; this capability was further assessed and two sub‐constructs of operations and relationship management emerged.Practical implications – The results of the empirical study provide a useful way for LSP managers to identify and appraise their firms capabilities and competitiveness.Originality/value – This ...

Antecedents for the Adoption and Execution of Supply Chain Management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model that includes drivers of supply chain management (SCM) adoption and execution identified in the literature, provide a set of measurement scales that operationalise constructs within this model, empirically verify a hierarchical order of antecedents that affects the adoption and execution of SCM, and assist management by providing a focus on those SCM conditions and processes that need to be prioritised to increase successful SCM adoption and execution.Design/methodology/approach – The conceptual model is tested empirically through a survey of 174 senior supply chain managers representing the biggest organisations within a central European country.Findings – Using structural equation modelling the hypothesised hierarchical order of three proposed antecedents is verified: “internal SCM conditions”, that affect “joint or external SCM conditions”, which in turn influence collaborative “SCM‐related processes”. Firms that adopt these steps sho...

On‐shelf availability: the case of a UK grocery retailer

Purpose – On‐shelf availability (OSA) has been a major cause of concern to UK grocery retailers over the last five years and the topic has been the focus of commissioned research reports by various trade associations. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of how one major grocery retailer tackled the OSA issue that had been exacerbated by management focus on new technology and distribution facilities.Design/methodology/approach – The purpose of the research was to determine if any relationship existed between OSA and store picking for home shoppers, OSA and promotions and OSA and store size. This paper discusses the academic and practitioner literature on OSA and out‐of‐stocks (OOS) and then presents a single company, in‐depth case study of one multiple grocery retailer. Primary research was undertaken with senior managers of the company but also at regional distribution centre (RDC) and store level to chart how new logistics strategies were implemented at an operational level in Scottish s...

The Transaction - Relationship Dichotomy in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

The customer-supplier dyadic exchange and relationship marketing are well-established research areas in the marketing discipline. Supplier and customer relationships or partnerships in logistics and supply chain management have also received attention amongst academics since the late 1980s. The literature has encouraged firms to develop customer service policies to satisfy customer needs and promote long term and profitable relationships, and has documented benefits for firms that do so. However, empirical studies in logistics customer service have revealed a different situation. Transaction-oriented dimensions such as availability, timeliness and price appear to be more important to customers than relationship dimensions that include trust, integrity and commitment. This paper briefly discusses the importance of customer service to relationships and then considers the nature of relationships in marketing and logistics. Then, the dichotomy between customer attitudes and behaviour regarding transactions and relationships is explored on conceptual and empirical levels from extant literature. Next, a model is presented as a potential research framework to address such dichotomous attitudes and behaviour of customers. Finally, the paper concludes with suggestions for future research using the model.