Title: Logistics outsourcing: the decision-making process in contracting companies

Authors: Renata Albergaria de Mello Bandeira; Antônio Carlos Gastaud Maçada; Luiz Carlos Brasil de Brito Mello

Addresses: Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80-Praia Vermelha-Urca-Rio de Janeiro, 22290-270, Brazil ' Universidade federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Washington Luiz 855, Sala 317, Centro, 90010-460, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil ' Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Passo da Pátria, 156-Bloco D, sala 241, Niterói – Rio de Janeiro, 24210-240, Brazil

Abstract: Although the use of third-party logistics services providers is still growing, unsuccessful logistics outsourcing experiences have been reported in the literature, in which failure to identify the factors affecting the choices made regarding logistics outsourcing is seen as an important element. Given this background, the present study adopts an empirical approach using qualitative and quantitative techniques to propose a set of factors that affects the logistics outsourcing decision-making process in the Brazilian context, as well as the level of importance attributed to each decision factor. This research aims to help scholars and practitioners understand the factors involved in logistics outsourcing decisions.

Keywords: logistics outsourcing; supply chain management; SCM; decision making; third-party logistics; 3PL services providers; structural equation modelling; SEM; resource-based view; RBV; transaction cost economics; TCE; contracting firms; Brazil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2015.069079

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2015 Vol.21 No.1, pp.92 - 114

Received: 11 Oct 2013
Accepted: 08 Jan 2014
Published online: 09 May 2015 *

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