Collaboration and Resource Investment Can Affect Logistics Performance

The best word to describe supply chain performance in the past two years is turbulent. Supply chain operators and customers alike continue to dream of days past when goods were available, and bottlenecking was at a minimum. As there is seemingly no end in sight to the current supply chain woes, LSU Department of Marketing Assistant Professor Kris Lindsey Hall, PhD student Ripinka Koli Patil, and co-authors* explored the many factors that impact a firm’s logistics performance. Their recent article, “Collaboration, Feedback, and Performance: Supply Chain Insights from Service-Dominant Logic,” details the findings in the Journal of Business Research.

To understand how supply chain performance might be enhanced when firms invest resources and collaborate with their supply chain partners, the authors used a Service-Dominant (S-D) logic approach. This approach suggests that companies focus on relational rather than transactional interactions with their supply chain partners to achieve mutually beneficial strategic advantages.

The authors surveyed full-time employees who held managerial positions in supply chain management and logistics (SCML) departments and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling. The research found that when firms make physical, financial, human, and technology investments in SCML partners and exchange regular, constructive feedback with partners, it increased the quality of their inter-firm collaborations. This is critical as they demonstrated that these inter-firm collaborations led to increased logistics performance. Importantly, performance is enhanced further for firms that are committed to learning, given that they can integrate this knowledge to improve their offerings. 

This research offers timely insights to SCML organizations to understand how collaboration and resource investment can positively benefit a firm’s logistics performance. The insights are especially beneficial now, given numerous supply chain disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for resilient and collaborative SCML networks.

These results can help organizations better understand how to overcome disruptions and increase overall logistics performance by (1) making resource investments in partners, (2) developing systems for obtaining and sharing critical feedback, (3) collaborating with partner firms in planning and training, and (4) promoting a learning culture. Finally, this work brings an important service lens to investigating the SCML domain, expanding theory, and providing ample opportunities for future research. 

*Co-authors: Ji (Miracle) Qi (Grand Valley State University) and R. Glenn Richey, Jr. (Auburn University)

 

Read the full Article.

About the Journal of Business Research

The Journal of Business Research applies theory developed from business research to actual business situations. Recognizing the intricate relationships between the many areas of business activity, JBR examines a wide variety of business decisions, processes, and activities within the actual business setting. Theoretical and empirical advances in buyer behavior, finance, organizational theory and behavior, marketing, risk and insurance and international business are evaluated on a regular basis. Published for executives, researchers, and scholars alike, the Journal aids the application of empirical research to practical situations and theoretical findings to the reality of the business world.

 

About the Department of Marketing

The Department of Marketing at LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business prepares its students for careers in sales/management, advertising, buying, product development, retailing, and market research. Our mission is to enhance and advance the reputation for excellence of the department, the college, and the University through high-quality, transformative research programs. For more information, visit the Department of Marketing website or call 225-578-8684.

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