Research On The Influencing Mechanism Of Relationship Quality On Logistics Outsourcing Performance Of Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises

Although logistics outsourcing has become a natural demand of Chinese manufacturing enterprises in the market economy development,the result of this practice is unsatisfactory.Many manufacturing enterprises have failed to achieve expected performance;some have suspended and even terminated their cooperation.The current relative literature,mostly based on Transaction Cost Theory,Resource-based Theory,etc.,analyzes logistics activities of outsourcing or their collection's influence on the expected performance,and achieves some confusing and blurring conclusions due to the neglect of the dual relationship between logistics service provider and the shipper.This dissertation,in the view of relational embeddedness from the Theory of enterprise networks,studies the effects of B to B relationship quality on logistics outsourcing performance and the influencing mechanism.On the basis of the systematic literature review,this dissertation introduces the relational behavior into the “relationship quality—?logistics outsourcing performance ” theoretical model as an exploratory mediating variable related to the influencing mechanism of relationship quality on logistics outsourcing performance.In this model,the relational behavior is divided into two dimensions,that is,cooperation and information sharing,and logistics outsourcing performance is divided into goal achievement and goal exceedance.With this division,the dissertation studies the transmission mechanism of behavior through which the relationship quality exerts influence on goal achievement and goal exceedance.To be specific,this research includes two aspects,the structural dimensions of relationship quality in the situation of logistics outsourcing,and the influencing mechanism of the relationship quality on the logistics outsourcing performance.Through on-the-spot interview,questionnaire survey to the manufacturing enterprises in China,the empirical test is carried out with large sample data,taking methods of descriptive statistical analysis,reliability and validity test,exploratory factor analysis,confirmatory factor analysis,structural equation model and so on,then the theoretical model and research hypothesis in this dissertation are tested and get support.Based on the comprehensive analysis and demonstration,the dissertation finally draws the following conclusion:(1)The relationship quality in the situation of logistics outsourcing is a multi-dimensional construct,which could be measured by a six-dimensional framework,including trust,commitment,dependence,specific investment,perceived opportunistic behavior and innovation.(2)Good relationship quality between the manufacturing enterprise and logistics service provider is beneficial for both sides to take some positive relational behaviors,such as cooperation and information sharing.Trust,commitment,dependence,specific investment and innovation have significant positive impacts on cooperation and information sharing.However,the manufacturing enterprises' perceived opportunistic behavior may not lead to negative effects on the relational behavior.(3)In the situation of logistics outsourcing,the relationship quality can exert both direct and indirect impact on logistics outsourcing performance.The relationship quality and its six dimensions not only significantly and directly affect the logistics outsourcing performance of the manufacturing enterprises,but also indirectly influence on it through the transmission mechanism of relational behavior.Specifically,cooperation and information sharing play a part of the intermediary role between the relationship quality and goal achievement;information sharing is found to partially mediate the relationship between relationship quality and goal exceedance.Finally,the dissertation deeply analyzes and discusses the empirical results,and according to these results explores some managerial implications for the best outsourcing practices of the manufacturing enterprise and logistics service provider,in the hope of providing some decision-making references for the relationship development and the formation of high-level strategic alliance between the two sides.