An empirical examination of the contents and evolution of the composing factors of logistics enterprise competitiveness: a perspective from China

Abstract

Managers and researchers are increasingly interested in the factor that logistics enterprise competitiveness (LEC) has significant effects on the development of Chinese logistics enterprises, especially in view of the enterprise life cycle. This paper investigates the contents and evolution of the composing factors of LEC in China by a survey. With Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS 15.0) software, the factor analysis method is used to determine the effects of each factor on LEC. Furthermore, the comparative analysis method is applied to compare the composing factors of LEC in different types of logistics enterprises and at different enterprise life cycle stages. The results show that factors of LEC according to their descending importance level are corporate capabilities, corporate resources, and dynamic mechanism. Three kinds of corporate capabilities (financial management capability, logistics risk control capability, and human resource management capability) and two kinds of corporate resources (corporate human resources and corporate culture) have the greatest influence on the development of LEC, but in reality have poor practical performance, and hence deserve more consideration from the enterprises.

Keywords:

• logistics enterprises competitiveness
• composing factors
• evolution process
• empirical research

Acknowledgements

The suggestions of the reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 71372156] and Humanity and Social Science Youth Foundation of Ministry of Education of China [Grant No. 2013YJC630098], and sponsored by China State Scholarship Fund and Independent Innovation Foundation of Tianjin University.