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



Everington, Lucy
An analysis of the implementation of horizontal collaboration to enhance performance in the logistics industry. Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

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.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy)
Additional Information: Date: 2013-06 (completed)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Collaboration, Co-opetition, Performance
Divisions: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Management
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 08 Aug 2013 08:37
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2022 04:39
DOI: 10.17638/00011815
Supervisors:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/11815