Options
Design of Interorganizational Incentive Models for Sustainability Management of Logistics Service Providers
Type
fundamental research project
Start Date
01 April 2010
End Date
31 July 2011
Status
completed
Keywords
Sustainability
Incentives
Logistics
Transport
Supply Chain Management
Description
The research project aims at giving recommendations on the design of incentive models for sustainability management of logistics service providers (LSP). Against the background of increasing governmental regulations and requirements as well as societal debates on climate change, the interest of companies in sustainability management grows steadily. Whereas companies traditionally focus only on complying with national regulations, the need for proactive strategies integrating other supply chain members into sustainability management increases.
Central to our research are industrial relationships between manufacturing companies and LSP. We focus on the logistics industry due to its importance and close linkage to the worlds economy and globalization. We observed that transportation and logistics processes offer large potentials for innovative and sustainable activities, but are rarely considered in sustainability management of manufacturers. Key challenge is that the logistics industry has developed a strong opportunistic and resistant perspective on sustainability management, which is contrary to shippers strategic sustainability goals. Hence, these interorganizational collaborations bear behavioral uncertainties with regard to sustainability performance. Shippers demand for solutions to reduce behavioral uncertainties by the implementation of adequate incentive models. This leads us to the research question on the design of incentive models in order to enable and motivate LSP to behave in a way that sustainability performance goals of shippers are fulfilled.
Central to our research are industrial relationships between manufacturing companies and LSP. We focus on the logistics industry due to its importance and close linkage to the worlds economy and globalization. We observed that transportation and logistics processes offer large potentials for innovative and sustainable activities, but are rarely considered in sustainability management of manufacturers. Key challenge is that the logistics industry has developed a strong opportunistic and resistant perspective on sustainability management, which is contrary to shippers strategic sustainability goals. Hence, these interorganizational collaborations bear behavioral uncertainties with regard to sustainability performance. Shippers demand for solutions to reduce behavioral uncertainties by the implementation of adequate incentive models. This leads us to the research question on the design of incentive models in order to enable and motivate LSP to behave in a way that sustainability performance goals of shippers are fulfilled.
Leader contributor(s)
Member contributor(s)
Kudla, Nicole
Partner(s)
Group for Sustainability and Technology (SusTec), ETH Zurich
Funder(s)
Topic(s)
Sustainability
Incentives
Logistics
Transport
Supply Chain Management
Method(s)
Case-Studies
Range
HSG Internal
Range (De)
HSG Intern
Division(s)
Eprints ID
61325
2 results
Now showing
1 - 2 of 2
-
PublicationIncentives for Sustainable Logistics: Proactive Logistics Service Providers vs. Shipper's Requirements? : A Tentative Taxonomy based on 10 Case StudiesSustainability management implies the planning, organizing and controlling of balanced economic, ecologic and social objectives in companies operations. Since, in present supply networks these operations are increasingly outsourced, focal companies need to integrate their suppliers into their sustainability management. Although logistics services play a prominent role in supply networks, they are rarely considered in sustainability activities of focal companies as well as in sustainability research. This paper contributes to research on inter-organizational sustainability management in the context of logistics services by applying a stimulus-organism-response framework. An explorative case study analysis of 10 European logistics service providers (LSP) is conducted in order to gain knowledge on the status of implementation of sustainability incentives set by shippers, and sustainability activities conducted by LSPs. The results of the stimuli and response analysis lead to a taxonomy of response types of LSPs. We identify a lack of incentives, since shipping companies only request for sustainability information, whereas concrete requirements are rarely implemented in terms of sustainability incentives. The taxonomy underlines a lack of responsive high performing companies and outlines sustainability incentives as a future field for researchType: conference paper
-
PublicationSustainability in shipper-logistics service provider relationships: A tentative taxonomy based on agency theory and stimulus-response analysisThe paper contributes to research on sustainability in dyadic buyer-supplier relationships of logistics services. It presents deeper knowledge on why and how suppliers choose to behave sustainably. The research analyzes how shippers stimulate their LSPs and how LSPs respond by conducting sustainability activities. Agency theory and the stimulus-organism-response model are applied as the theoretical foundations for an explorative case study analysis of three large and five small and medium-sized European logistics service providers (LSPs) active in road transport services. Significant differences are found between the sustainability efforts of SMEs and large LSPs and a tentative taxonomy of the sustainability response types of LSPs is derived. The taxonomy contributes to theory-guided research in sustainable supply chain management and procurement. Thereby, mismatches of stimuli and responses are identified and related agency problems in dyadic relationships in terms of sustainability are discussed. From a managerial point of view, the findings may serve as a starting point for purchasers of logistics services to develop adequate sustainability selection criteria and incentives.Type: journal articleJournal: Journal of Purchasing and Supply ManagementVolume: 18Issue: 4
Scopus© Citations 76