Logistics Salience in a Changing Environment

Zacharia, Zach G.; Mentzer, John T.

doi:10.1002/j.2158-1592.2004.tb00174.x

Cited by 59 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…However, the diffusion of technology into the SME sector remains a daunting challenge, all round (Nepal, Karki & Niraula, 2006). In most developing countries, the technology used by SMEs in their operations is imported, which presents a cost-related albatross for SMEs, since they are inadequately financed to meet the expense (DTI, 2004 (Zacharia & Mentzer, 2004). Therefore, it is only natural that both the high cost of information technologies and the fast pace at which technology is changing have become major threats to SMEs as they implement logistics strategies.…”

Section: Key: 1 = Not Important 6 = Very Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Logistics benefits and challenges: The case of SMEs in a South African local municipality

Mafini¹,

Omoruyi²

2013

SAJESBM

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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of every economy. However, in order for them to sustain their role of contributing to the mainstream economy, SMEs have to implement effective strategies in all of their business operations, inclusive of logistics. The function of logistics is important to SMEs because it is the quintessence of the organisation's relationship with suppliers and customers. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges encountered as well as the benefits realised by SMEs during the implementation of logistics strategies. A quantitative approach using the cross-sectional descriptive survey technique was used in which a three-section questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 131 SME owners and managers in Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analysis was conducted using simple descriptive statistics. The results of the study reveal that financial constraints, the lack of logistics skills among the workforce, high costs of information technology and rapid technological advancements were the most important challenges to SMEs. Challenges related to inventory and environmental management emerged as the least relevant. Enhanced competitive advantage, increased sales and a reduction in operational costs were the most important benefits to SMEs. Reduction in labour turnover and innovation emerged as the least important benefits. Based on the findings, several recommendations were proposed.

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Section: Key: 1 = Not Important 6 = Very Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Logistics benefits and challenges: The case of SMEs in a South African local municipality

Mafini¹,

Omoruyi²

2013

SAJESBM

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“…(2008) framework, it has been applied more recently to a handful of other studies to examine supply chain risk (Wagner and Bode 2008), to develop archetypes based on information technology and organizational structure variables (Buttermann et al. 2008), and to underscore the importance of logistics salience (Zacharia and Mentzer 2004). There is also a stream of slightly older studies that used contingency theory to investigate logistics as a firm capability (Emerson and Grimm 1999), to look at a flexibility‐based strategy (Fawcett et al.…”

Section: Literature Review and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Relational Supplier Exchange on Financial Performance: A Study of the Hospital Sector

Germain¹,

Davis‐Sramek

Lonial

et al. 2011

Journal of Business Logistics

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In the hospital context, when responsiveness is high, relational exchange with suppliers associates with better financial performance. But when a hospital’s responsiveness is low, relational exchange has no effect on performance—the hospital’s inability to adopt “things that are new” and extirpate “things that are old” eclipses the potential financial benefits of long‐term, relational exchange with suppliers. Furthermore, the quality orientation of the hospital and supplier uncertainty associate with relational supplier exchange—these effects are not moderated by hospital responsiveness. The net effect is that a quality orientation in a hospital impacts financial performance only when hospital responsiveness is high.

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“…Supply chain management has become more important in companies and in the context of NPD can be considered the incorporation of suppliers and customers ideas -again facilitated by logistics. Logistics is more salient in firms that belong to industries that emphasize information technology and time based competition (Zacharia and Mentzer 2004). Firms where logistics provides a competitive advantage or is important within the firm will likely benefit from logistics involvement in NPD.…”

Section: Resource Dependence Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Logistics salience is defined as the influence/importance of logistics relative to other functions within the firm (Zacharia and Mentzer 2004). Logistics, as a function, is increasingly viewed as strategically important to the firm (Bienstock, Mentzer, and Bird 1997;Mentzer, Flint, and Hult 2001).…”

Section: Logistics Salience and Logistics Involvementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Logistics has become more salient in companies where logistics excellence has an impact on the company's profitability, such as Dell, Nabisco, and FedEx (Mentzer and Williams 2001), and companies have used logistics to create a competitive advantage (Bowersox, Mentzer, and Speh 1995;Morash, Dröge, and Vickery 1996). In firms where logistics is salient and provides a competitive advantage, there might be a benefit in involving logistics in firm-wide activities where logistics currently does not play a prominent role, such as new product development (Zacharia and Mentzer 2004). Resource dependence theory also suggests that functions that are important and provide an advantage within the firm are more likely to be involved in core business processes within the firm such as supply chain management and NPD.…”

Section: Logistics Salience and Logistics Involvementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Logistics in New Product Development

Zacharia

Mentzer

2007

J of Business Logistics

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For many firms, a program of successful new product development (NPD) projects is critical to overall company strategy. However, the role of logistics in NPD has rarely been researched. The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the relationship between logistics involvement in new product development and improvements in NPD project performance and NPD logistics performance. Senior logistics managers in manufacturing firms in the United States were surveyed to test these relationships. The analysis demonstrated NPD project performance and NPD logistics performance improved with the involvement of logistics in NPD.

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Logistics Salience in a Changing Environment

Cited by 59 publications

References 49 publications

Logistics benefits and challenges: The case of SMEs in a South African local municipality

Logistics benefits and challenges: The case of SMEs in a South African local municipality

The Impact of Relational Supplier Exchange on Financial Performance: A Study of the Hospital Sector

The Role of Logistics in New Product Development

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