International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Ebbe Gubi; Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn; John Johansen

2003 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030310508690

Logistics and supply chain management (SCM) are broad disciplines in which many different, cross‐functional tasks are investigated. In Scandinavia, research in logistics and SCM experienced a significant boom during the 1990s; the steadily increasing interest in participation in the annual NOFOMA Nordic Logistics Conference and the steadily growing number of PhD students enrolled in the Scandinavian research environments emphasizing the study of logistics and SCM bear witness to this intensification. In addition, a great number of doctoral dissertations in this field are completed in Scandinavia, adding greatly to the existent store of knowledge concerning a wide range of logistics and SCM phenomena. However, to date, precious little effort has been devoted to providing an overview of these dissertations. This paper is designed to fill that void. To that end, 75 doctoral dissertations published from 1990 to 2001 are identified. The framework classifies the dissertations into a series of main themes indicative of the state of Nordic research in logistics and SCM. Suggestions for future research based on this survey are likewise provided.

Mark Goh; Charlene Ling

2003 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030310508708

The accession of the People's Republic of China to the World Trade Organisation should provide greater access to an erstwhile‐untapped market. Trade and foreign investments are expected to increase rapidly. Under this setting, an enormous challenge is posed to the logistics industry as it endeavours to meet the increased demands of the market. Based on the secondary data, this paper finds that despite the improvements and advancements undertaken by the Government and other agencies, the current logistics infrastructure, particularly those of transportation networks, telecommunications systems, warehousing facilities and customs procedures are still lacking. Future developments are also highlighted to portray an accurate assessment of the logistics situation in China.

Victoria Salin; Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr

2003 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030310508717

This article examines the business relationships in the cold chain used for exporting food to new markets in developing countries. The American Potato Trade Alliance, a cross‐network alliance that includes all levels of the value chain, is the subject of case study research involving participant observation and fieldwork in the Philippines and Thailand. Multinational restaurant companies manage technical challenges in target markets with tight specifications and exclusive supply chains, while smaller firms use extensive networks to supply imported frozen potatoes. Pricing strategies for cold chain services are closely related to quality and potentially affect the availability of outsourced cold chain services. Opportunistic behavior by buyers could reduce incentives for private investment in cold chain infrastructure, while long‐term commitment by chain partners would strengthen the potential for private markets to provide cold chain services in newly developing markets.

Ioannis S. Papadakis

2003 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030310508726

This empirical study provides evidence linking supply chain strategy and company risk structure. An event study on the stock performance of four major personal computer (PC) producers is performed focusing on the 1999 earthquake in Taiwan and the computer memory price increases that ensued. It is shown that investors associate pull‐type supply chains for PCs with lower profitability after abrupt component price increases. A parallel analysis of push‐type producer stock returns does not show similar results. Furthermore, in‐depth analysis of Dell Computer reveals that after the catastrophe‐induced disruption, the onset of losses to this major pull‐type PC producer was very fast. Far from condemning pull‐type PC supply chains, earthquake‐induced disruptions, like the one researched, pose manageable risks.