Title: Strategic groups evaluation and firm performance for logistics services providers

Authors: Taih-Cherng Lirn; Kuo-Chung Shang; Chin-Shan Lu

Addresses: Department of Shipping and Transportation Management, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan ' Department of Transportation Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan ' Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Abstract: This study empirically identifies strategic groups of LSPs in Taiwan in terms of their capabilities. The findings indicate that organisational learning is perceived by respondents to be the most important capability, followed by integration and logistics service capabilities. Logistics services firms are categorised into three strategic groups, namely, intensive capability-oriented firms, logistics service capability-oriented firms, and integrated organisational learning-capability firms. The results provide evidence of performance differences between these strategic groups. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings for international logistics service providers are also discussed.

Keywords: strategic groups; logistics services providers; LSPs; organisational learning; integration; logistics service capabilities; firm performance; Taiwan; international logistics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2014.064922

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2014 Vol.6 No.6, pp.652 - 679

Accepted: 25 Oct 2013
Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

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