The impact of supply chain relationship quality on performance in the maritime logistics industry in light of firm characteristics
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 20 June 2018
Issue publication date: 17 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Anchoring on configuration theory, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate how supply chain relationship quality (SCRQ) differs across firm characteristics (FC) in the maritime logistics industry. In addition, it utilises transactional cost theory to establish the relationship between SCRQ and supply chain performance (SCP).
Design/methodology/approach
The data were obtained from a survey with 205 maritime logistics service players (shipping firms, shippers and freight forwarders) in Singapore. MANOVA and t-test analyses are used to examine the difference in SCRQ (i.e. trust and commitment) across FC which includes firm types and ownership types. Thereafter, structural equation modelling is employed to examine the influence of SCRQ on SCP.
Findings
The results indicate that the effects of trust and commitment on SCRQ vary significantly. It was also found that trust as an aspect of SCRQ has a significant impact on SCP, whereas commitment does not.
Research limitations/implications
As the field data were obtained from only one industry, future replication of the findings to other industries should consider industry-specific factors, if applicable.
Practical implications
It is suggested that maritime logistics service players should carefully manage trust and commitment to simultaneously enable SCP. By identifying the various aspects of FC that contribute to SCRQ, maritime logistics service providers could devise appropriate strategies for different customer segments more effectively.
Originality/value
This study expands current supply chain research by linking two dimensions of SCRQ in relationship marketing with SCP in supply chain management. It is also one of the first empirical attempts to explore the role of FC in the linkage between SCRQ and SCP in the maritime logistics industry.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of the regular section.
Citation
Shin, Y., Thai, V. and Yuen, K.F. (2018), "The impact of supply chain relationship quality on performance in the maritime logistics industry in light of firm characteristics", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 1077-1097. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-10-2016-0227
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited