Dominance and collaboration in logistics triads: the case studies from New Zealand

Abstract

The study focuses on understanding how different supply chain stakeholders' power dynamics influence supply chain relationships' stability and dynamics in a logistics triad. The study uses a qualitative research approach (multiple case studies) to collect data from the perspectives of logistics service providers (LSPs), suppliers, and customers. Having unique resource/service capability helps the LSP dominate long-term triad relationships by controlling its partners and impeding changes in embedded dyads. The identified theoretical and empirical outcomes provide insights to academics and practitioners to understand the supply chain relationship dynamics based on LSP's dominant power. This study's originality primarily focuses on the dominant player—LSP—to influence triadic supply chain relationships, which is significantly different from the traditional view—the dominant power controlled by suppliers or customers.

Keywords:

• Logistics outsourcing
• logistics triad
• supply chain relationships
• dynamics
• New Zealand
• case study

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wen Luo

Wen (Clark) Luo is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Business and Enterprise of Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC) – Hamilton, New Zealand. He obtained his Ph.D. in the area of supply chain and logistics management from the University of Waikato. His teaching and research areas are data science and supply chain analytics, supply chain relationship and network, supply chain integration, alignment of business and supply chain strategy, smart supply chain, logistics outsourcing, global freight logistics management, operations management, project management, blockchain and industry 4.0.

V. G Venkatesh

V. G. Venkatesh is an Associate Professor in supply chain management with EM Normandie Business School, France. His teaching and research interests are in global procurement, logistics, sustainability, and technology applications.

Yangyan Shi

Yangyan Shi focuses on the research of operations, logistics, and supply chain management. His research papers have been published in international operations and supply chain management journals. He is the corresponding author, which can be contacted at: [email protected].

Tiru Arthanari

Tiru Arthanari is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Business School, and his research focuses on operational research, operations management, and supply chain management.