Resource-based logistics (RBL) and logistics performance

The increasing trends of logistics outsourcing have forced logistics service providers (LSPs) to more effectively leverage their productive resources to provide superior service performance. The current logistics literature has identified some strategic logistics resources and their performance impacts but there is a lack of knowledge on the combined effects of such resources. The main objective of this research is to identify logistics resources - called resource-based logistics (RBL) – acquired by LSPs and to examine the impacts of RBL on logistics performance. Based on the resource-based view (RBV) theory, this research develops constructs and measurements for logistics resources (RBL) and logistics performance (LP) and further examines the impacts of RBL on logistics performance in terms of customer service innovation (customer service and service innovation) and cost leadership. Based on data from interviews and a survey of 123 Malaysian LSPs, factor analyses were used to establish five groups of logistics resources - technology, physical, management, relational and organizational resources, contributing to the development of constructs and measurements for logistics resources from the LSP perspective. While simple regression analyses suggest that each RBL was positively associated with customer service innovation and cost leadership, further stepwise regression analyses suggest customer service innovation was enhanced when organizational and technology resources were bundled together. These two resources largely mediated the relationships between physical, relational and management expertise and customer service innovation. Similarly, the analyses suggest that cost leadership was enhanced when organizational and management expertise resources were bundled together; these two resources mediated the relationships between technological, physical, and relational resources and cost leadership. The implications of the results for theory and practice are significant. This research provides empirical evidence for the development of a theoretical model for logistics resources grounded in RBV theory. The detailed bundling and mediating effects of logistics resources represent novel empirical evidence needed to enhance the understanding of LSP performance. This research recommends that LSPs should embark on developing capabilities in the five RBL. Especially, logistics managers should focus on developing and bundling their organizational, management and technology resources more effectively. In addition this research proposes a theoretical model for future research into the competitive advantage of LSPs