Implementation of urban logistics systems

Concept components, summarized under the umbrella term urban logistics has become a strategic priority for many public and private players in recent years due to the emergence of challenges in urban areas around the globe, including factors such as urbanization, the rise of e-commerce, changing customer demands, and the consequential growth of traffic and emissions. These challenges tend to continue growing in the future. As a result, countermeasures such as urban logistics systems are in high demand. However, many urban logistics undertakings fail to be put into practice and are eventually terminated for various reasons, which can be considered implementation barriers that exist in practice. While research on urban logistics is proliferating, the implementation of urban logistics systems has been insufficiently addressed. Thus, there can be determined a research gap on this topic. The present dissertation addresses the issue of implementing urban logistics systems and investigates the implementation process from a holistic perspective. For this investigation, which follows the design science research methodology, an eclectic theoretical approach based on contingency theory, stakeholder theory, theory of constraints, and theory of complex adaptive systems is applied. The research comprises (1) a contingency analysis of the conceptual design of urban logistics systems, (2) a qualitative assessment of urban logistics concept components, (3) success factors for urban logistics systems implementation, (4) recommendations for implementation management, and finally, culminates in (5) an adaptable implementation concept for urban logistics systems. With a concentration on these, this dissertation aims to establish a foundation for successfully implemented urban logistics systems. The results indicate that the application of a broad implementation understanding of the particular case of urban logistics systems implementation is recommended. This way, the classical separation of planning and realization can be overcome in an iterative manner based on a hybrid project management philosophy that combines profound urban logistics system designs with an agile approach to their application. These particular findings not only help to achieve a theoretical foundation from the perspective of the scientific community but also allow for conclusions for practitioners and their specific urban logistics-related projects. Thereby, this dissertation contributes to overcoming the implementation barriers in practice. Thus, it calls for the transfer of this dissertations findings into practice.