Horizontal collaboration between logistics service providers (LSP) in Australia: examining the structure opportunities and impediments

This research investigated horizontal collaboration among logistics service providers (LSPs) in Australia. The study examined the extent to which this exists and is being adopted, and the forms of any horizontal collaboration among LSPs in Australia. Using a qualitative methodology from an interpretivist-constructivist perspective, the research process used semi-structured interviews to collect responses from a broad range of individuals from Australian logistics providers, logistics authorities and associations. The study found that horizontal collaboration is not being adopted by LSPs as the primary type of relationship to interact with each other in Australia. Their focus is the use of both vertical and lateral collaboration models, with vertical collaboration as the dominant type. The data also show that the extent of direct involvement in developing horizontal collaboration activities in the Australian logistics context seems to be to remain largely at arm's length and enter operational relationships. The participants, however, anticipated that the level of horizontal collaboration would grow in the future. The data revealed that LSPs consider horizontal collaboration to be a promising concept. There is clear enthusiasm and interest in the thinking of the logistics industry about horizontal collaboration, its possibilities, potential structures and the areas where this type of collaboration could be implemented and employed. Potential opportunities and drivers of horizontal collaboration among LSPs were identified in the research. These were for LSPs seeking to reduce costs; improve productivity and market positioning; provide better customer service; and create better capability and capacity. The research found that the adoption of horizontal collaboration is impeded in the Australian logistics industry by difficulties with partner selection; problems with the partnership process and how economic benefits are determined and divided; and uncertainty about how to overcome difficulties with both business coordination and with information and communication technology. The research also identified that collaboration adoption is significantly negatively affected by the nature and structure of the Australian logistics industry, the attitude of large LSPs, fear of mergers and acquisitions in the industry and the role of government authorities and regulations in the Australian commercial context. The most significant effect of impediments to collaboration is that LSPs are reluctant or unable to build long-term successful horizontal collaborations with others in the Australian logistics industry. This thesis uses the results of the data analysis and the existing research frameworks on collaboration in logistics to develop a theoretical model for understanding the development and effective application of horizontal collaboration. It proposes a comprehensive horizontal logistics collaboration model and evaluates its applicability in the Australian logistics context

Horizontal collaboration in logistics: A feasible task for group purchasing

Current attention to the argument of collaborative procurement has been investigated by both academia and industry practitioners as the concept of group purchasing. This paper first reviews the literature on horizontal collaboration in purchasing task and recognises the interface between purchasing progress and the logistical point of view of supply as the accomplishing task of the procurement cycle. Secondly, it examines the effects of a successful horizontal collaboration in logistics activities among a group of small and medium sized food enterprises (SMEs) which have participated in a purchasing consortium. ‘Homo-regional firms’ are introduced as a logistics concept illustrating the potentiality in establishing horizontal collaboration in logistics activities in order to gain a competitive advantage. Methodology consists of data collection through quantitative questionnaires in direct contact with the firms. The results show a reduction of 10% to 30% in outbound logistics cost in comparison to the time period in which the firms were undergoing procurement by themselves

Facing the Rising Tide: How Local Governments in the United States Collaborate to Adapt to Sea Level Rise

While communities in the United States are already experiencing the effects of climate change, scientists project that sea level rise, increased precipitation, and record-breaking extreme weather events will devastate vulnerable regions in the following decades. The absence of federal strategies for climate change adaptation leaves state and city governments with broad discretion to undertake climate change adaptation measures. Yet cities may be unable to adapt to climate change without external assistance, particularly in states where the state leadership has not recognized the need to provide political and financial support to local governments. Collaboration allows cities to pool resources and work across boundaries to ameliorate significant problems such as climate change. Scholars of public administration have extensively researched collaboration. However, we still know little about what factors facilitate horizontal collaboration and why and how collaborative governance may lead to improved policy outputs and outcomes. Using the case of sea level rise preparedness in US cities, this dissertation contributes to better understanding of horizontal collaboration and its effects on public service provision. The analysis draws on quantitative data from surveys, administered to US municipal governments, and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with city officials. This research has several principal findings. First, organizational propensity to collaborate on sea level rise preparedness is driven by leadership that recognizes the value and need for collaboration, and internal organizational characteristics. Second, horizontal collaboration helps cities advance plans for sea level rise adaptation, particularly when partnering with institutions of higher learning and businesses. Third, the findings show that collaboration with other municipalities and businesses is a positive contributing factor toward better preparedness for sea level rise in US cities. By shedding more light on horizontal collaboration as a tool to help cities adapt to changes in climate, the study contributes to two bodies of literature, including research on climate change policy and collaborative governance. The study also provides a number of recommendations to local policy makers and public administrators on how to facilitate horizontal collaboration to utilize local resources in public problem-solving

An analysis of the implementation of horizontal collaboration to enhance performance in the logistics industry

This thesis examines the extent to which horizontal collaboration is being undertaken in the logistics industry, the different ways horizontal collaboration is being implemented in the logistics industry and the performance enhancements that can be achieved by logistics companies through horizontal collaboration partnerships. Research into the subject of horizontal collaboration has only in the past 5 years gained enough momentum and support to become a topic in its own right, rather than a footnote to research on vertical collaboration. For this reason existing research on the topic has been confined to a small number of areas and very little literature exists on comparing the performance enhancements of different types of horizontal collaboration. This research involved a large-scale survey to investigate general patterns and perceptions of horizontal collaboration in the logistics industry and following that a number of case studies were undertaken to gain in-depth knowledge of how horizontal collaboration can be successfully undertaken. The results from these were then developed into a set of guidelines which can be used by logistics companies implementing horizontal collaboration by providing information on issues such as problems that can be addressed using horizontal collaboration, necessary partner requirements, necessary internal requirements, duration and formality of the collaboration, benefits, risks and obstacles for each of the four main types of horizontal collaboration being undertaken in the logistics industry. Horizontal collaboration was found to be a wide-spread practice in the UK Logistics industry across companies of all sizes and types. The most common form of horizontal collaboration is ‘shared services’, however, ‘joint ventures’ are perceived to be the most effective form of collaboration

Horizontal collaboration in the freight transport sector: barrier and decision-making frameworks

Abstract In the freight transport sector, competing companies horizontally collaborate through establishing Collaborative Transport Networks (CTNs). Fruitful implementation of CTNs will leverage environmental and socio-economic goals of sustainable development in the freight transport sector. The benefits of CTNs in horizontal collaborative settings have been widely demonstrated through several modelling approaches. However, in practice, the real applications of CTNs have been challenging and most did not achieve satisfactory performances. Some studies have addressed this issue by identifying different barriers to CTN implementation. However, a conceptual framework for the barriers is not well-established. In addition, the literature lacks a decision-making framework for the CTN implementation which considers the different barriers. To address this gap, this paper conducted a literature review of the barriers to CTN implementation. In total, 31 different barriers were identified. A conceptual barrier framework is developed by grouping the 31 barriers into five categories: the business model, information sharing, the human factors, the Collaborative Decision Support Systems (CDSSs), and the market. The paper additionally proposes a stage-gate model integrating the conceptual barrier framework into the CTN implementation decision-making process. The current work contributes to the existing literature by developing both theoretical and practical understandings of the barriers to implementing CTNs and will support decision makers in CTN implementation to maximize the CTN benefits and minimize the risk of CTN failure