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The purpose of this paper is to explore why and how firms with logistics-intensive operations such as fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) distributors benefit from residing in logistics clusters. In particular, this study seeks to fill a gap in the understanding of how logistics clustering may influence FMCG firms’ distribution capabilities.

Three case studies of FMCG distributors geographically agglomerated within Q Logistics Cluster in Jordan serve to elaborate the existing theory of clustering. Data were collected from 24 interviews as well as observational evidence of the FMCG distributors’ outbound logistics operations. The unit of analysis was the interaction between FMCG distributors and other agents in the logistics cluster.

FMCG distributors tend to gravitate to clusters where logistics service providers and other FMCG firms co-locate. FMCG distributors interact intensively and benefit greatly from building ties with non-competitor distributors in a cluster. Informal personal relations, collaborative activities and knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and resource availability were found to act as mechanisms for generating distribution capabilities within a logistics cluster.

This study provides practical implications for FMCG logistics and distribution managers who make distribution centre (DC) location decisions. The study provides such managers and their firms with a deeper understanding of the importance of co-locating DCs in logistics clusters, and may help them in designing their supply networks.

This is the first scholarly work to uncover the various ways in which FMCG distributors benefit from logistics clustering and explain why they may differ in performance, building on observations of their capabilities. The study provides insight from an emerging market and encourages future researchers to conduct further studies on logistics clustering in order to bring relevant theory forward.

Existing literature is still lacking field works that reflect the implications and applications of blockchain in supply chain management. This paper aims to explore the role of blockchain technology in improving the performance of maritime shipping and develop a model to enhance blockchain applicability.

Qualitative data were collected through 28 semi-structured interviews from several supply chain actors in the Middle East and were analyzed based on a thematic analysis approach using NVivo software.

An emerging model for improving the performance of the maritime shipping industry through blockchain technology has been developed. The findings suggest that there are transparency and process efficiency–related improvements as an outcome of Blockchain implementation in the maritime shipping industry.

As shipping industry is largely fragmented, small players find it difficult to achieve great benefits such as those achieved by larger players in the sector. The authors’ model provides guidance for the implementation of Blockchain.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first scholarly works to investigate Blockchain applicability in shipping industry in the Middle East. The lack of a universal standard is a considerable challenge which is still hindering the development of blockchain applications that integrate the different actors.

Recent literature recognizes the role of warehouses in enhancing the overall logistics performance. Thus, lean thinking has recently found its way in supporting warehouse and distribution centre operations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among warehouse waste reduction practices, warehouse operational performance, distribution performance and business performance.

A two-stage study was conducted. First, a Delphi technique was adopted to develop a relevant questionnaire. Second, this questionnaire was used to measure the degree of waste reduction in the different warehouse activities and to test the developed research hypotheses. The authors test the hypotheses with a sample of Middle Eastern warehouse operators.

There exists a positive relationship between warehouse waste reduction level and both warehouse operational performance and distribution performance. There was no direct relationship between warehouse waste reduction level and business performance. However, results revealed that the relationship between warehouse waste reduction level and business performance was mediated by warehouse operational performance and distribution performance.

The developed instrument provides a guide for logistics managers as to understand how to reduce waste in each warehousing activity. The results also inform logistics managers of how distribution performance can be improved through lean warehousing. The resulting performance improvements in the distribution operations will ultimately be reflected in the logistics performance of downstream retailers.

The study develops an original instrument for measuring waste reduction in warehouses, and provides insights into the evolving lean warehousing research area. This is the first scholarly work to uncover the relationships among warehouse waste reduction practices, warehouse operational performance, distribution performance and business performance.

Although recent research acknowledges the importance of reducing the inefficient activities from road transportation, there is still a missing link in literature of how transportation extended wastes impact road haulers efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between waste reduction practices (WRP) and fleet operational efficiency (FOE) in road hauler firms.

A theoretical model was developed to assess this relationship. The authors test the model with a sample from logistics companies providing road haulage services in the Middle East, providing a contribution to extant literature from a different setting.

Results suggest that WRP have a positive and significant impact on FOE. A valuable scale for the measurement of operational efficiency was developed and validated, representing an index toward the most efficient organization.

The findings of this study serves as a tool for shippers to benchmark the efficiency levels of their motor carrier service providers against each other, considering that segmentation is a relevant issue to understand the choice in favor of a given provider to the detriment of another. Furthermore, road haulers can use the efficiency measurements as a basis for establishing future action plans to adopt waste reduction practices.

The research deals with a newly emerging stream of research on linking waste practices to road transport. The authors contribute to this developing body of research through filling a gap in the link between waste and road transport operational performance. The research is also different from recent literature in that the authors provide insights from a larger population, unlike other similar studies who used VSM and studied only a particular case. Thus, the work is important to generalize the findings, especially that the authors provide a perspective from a non-western perspective.

The aim of this study is to investigate and examine the impact of strategic purchasing practices (SPP) on strategic-fit (SF) by analyzing the influence of SPP on purchasing involvement in business strategy formulation with path-goal theory leadership styles as moderators.

Using survey data from 320 respondents representing 64 manufacturing firms in the Middle East, the authors measure SPP, purchasing involvement, leadership styles and SF of the purchasing function with business strategy.

Building on the path-goal approach to leadership, results suggest that participative, supportive and achievement-oriented leadership (AOL) styles are pure moderators, while directive leadership style (DLS) is a quasi-moderator in boosting the relationship between SPP and strategic purchasing involvement (SPI).

Limitations of the sampling methodology and sample size restricts the scope for generalizing the hypotheses. Further, data were collected only from manufacturing companies. The paper provides managerial implications on purchasing involvement in business strategy formulation and the different roles of leadership styles.

This is the first scholarly work to examine the different leadership styles as a moderator that affects the strategic involvement and status of strategic purchasing.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the themes that emerged from retail supply chain (RSC) literature during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that inform future mitigation and recovery strategies.

This study analyses contributions in the RSC literature using four databases: Emerald, Elsevier (Science Direct), Wiley and Taylor & Francis. The systematic review approach resulted in identifying 74 articles covering 2020 to 2022.

Four themes emerged from the RSC literature on COVID-19. The first theme highlighted the factors that exacerbated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the RSC. The second theme focussed on the types of disruptions that occurred in the RSC during the pandemic. The third theme demonstrated the recovery strategies used to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the RSC. The fourth theme identified proposed mitigation strategies for the RSC post-COVID-19 outbreak.

The study provides a deeper understanding of how RSC managers could successfully reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by dealing with interruptions. Based on the reviewed studies and the four themes that evolved from RSC literature on COVID-19 throughout 2020–2022, 11 key RSC strategies and lessons have been recommended to decision-makers in the retail industry.

This is the first study to identify the themes that emerged from RSC literature during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future mitigation and recovery strategies. The resulting themes add to the existing body of knowledge and establish the need for further research into other sectors that might be affected by future pandemics.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the benefits of integrating IT tracking and routing systems into last-mile distribution operations. The paper also demonstrates the role of field experiments as a valid approach for improving the rigour of logistics research.

The study employs a field experiment approach. Data were collected before and after the experimental treatment from 16 participating vehicles, which were used as inputs and outputs to calculate vehicles' efficiencies using data envelopment analysis.

Through employing manipulation and random assignment to investigate causality in naturally occurring contexts, the study results show statistical evidence for the role of vehicle tracking and routing systems in enhancing fleet efficiency. Furthermore, results show that field experiment is an appropriate method for capital budgeting of deploying IT systems in the distribution function.

Distribution managers can use a field experiment setup to assess the potential impact of installing IT solutions prior to large-scale implementation or prior to purchasing.

The study fills a gap in the literature through the application of a field experiment approach to establish causality relationships in distribution and logistics research. This study should encourage new research on the role of field experimentation in evaluating the benefits gained from, and the capital budgeting of, the modern disruptive technologies in supply chains.

This paper focuses on quantifying and ranking the “7-Deadly” Wastes in the warehouse environment. The purpose of this paper is to develop a prioritized road map that would guide the implementation of the “7-Deadly” Wastes and their related waste-reduction practices in a warehouse environment for improving warehouse operational performance.

A four-stage approach was used to achieve the objectives of the study. A Delphi technique was employed to develop indicators of waste-reduction practices at the warehouse activities level and categorize them according to the “7-Deadly” wastes. Whereas categories ranked based on statistical analysis, a regression analysis was used to explore the impacts of this ranking.

The results of the regression analysis showed a significant influence of the ranked “7-Deadly” wastes on warehouse operational performance. The paper develops a road map for implementing waste-reduction practices in the warehouse.

The paper proposes a road map comprising warehouse waste categories. It develops an integrated approach to quantify, rank and prioritize initiatives to adopt the categories of the “7-Deadly” Wastes that would (not) affect warehouse operational performance.

This paper aims to identify leadership behaviours in the manufacturing sector in Jordan that enable successful Lean Six Sigma implementation.

Qualitative data were collected through 27 interviews to identify the leadership behaviours that facilitate Lean Six Sigma and a focus group to categorise the aspects by grouping them into themes. A grounded theory approach was used in the field study. The processes of constant comparisons helped in identifying the relevant aspects of leadership behaviours and integrating specific aspects into themes; these processes were iteratives. Therefore, this research project relies on the grounded theory methodology to collect and analyse the data. The authors also used a focus group to categorise the aspects by grouping them into themes. In that, the aspects were grouped around core categories.

After analysing the data, 36 aspects have emerged. The data analysis processes helped in discovering the aspects of leadership that support the use of Lean Six Sigma in the manufacturing sector in Jordan. The aspects were developed through an iterative process of analysis until the saturation level was reached. Eight themes that influence the successful use of Lean Six Sigma emerged: Training and development; Continuous improvement and development; Communication; Empowering employees; Motivating employees; Managing qualities and operations; Employees engagement and involvement; and Supporting culture

There are some research limitations to this study, which opens avenues for future research. First, the data was collected through qualitative methods, which limits the generalizability of the results. Future studies are needed to generalize the results to the wider business community. Second, the data was collected only from manufacturing organizations and did not consider other sectors. Future researchers are urged to replicate the study in other sectors. Third, this study considered only Jordanian firms; therefore, the authors call upon further research to investigate other national settings that may have a different business culture.

This study encourages businesses to follow and adopt these behaviours in organisations, which can help in developing desirable behaviours among leaders to reach advanced levels in using Lean Six Sigma. Moreover, practitioners can develop training programmes for developing leaders. Thus, the Lean Six Sigma journey can become smoother by addressing the issues that face practitioners during the different phases of implementing Lean Six Sigma. In that respect, the practical implication of this research is to describe the practices that the leadership of organisations must develop to maintain high levels of Lean Six Sigma deployment.

Scholarly studies in this field are scarce, especially in developing countries, so identifying the leadership behaviours can help researchers create a theory of leadership behaviours for Lean Six Sigma. Furthermore, practitioners of Lean Six Sigma can take into account these behaviours as crucial to the effective use of Lean Six Sigma. They can encourage leaders to follow and adopt these behaviours in organisations which can help in developing desirable behaviours among leaders to reach advanced levels in using Lean Six Sigma. Thus, the Lean Six Sigma journey can become smoother by addressing the issues that practitioners face during the different phases of implementing Lean Six Sigma.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the non-academic impact in supply chain management (SCM) research through the application of three distinctive approaches to phenomenological methodology in different contexts.

Evidence-based examples from three case studies using interpretivist, social constructivist and critical realist methodologies are presented. They reflect non-positivist approaches commonly used in phenomenological methodology and adopted in SCM investigative research.

Different types of non-academic reach and significance from each research methodology are discussed to illustrate the non-academic impact benefits from each case. The three distinctive phenomenological approaches have been shown to contribute to innovative research methodology development on their own philosophical merit and produced novel contributions to SCM research in particular.

The non-academic impact examples have been shown to have wider influence and implication to business, the economy and society at large.

The paper highlights the relevance of phenomenological research methodology for SCM. It also contributes to the development of the SCM subject area and is hoped to encourage further reporting of non-academic impact of supply chain research.