<p><strong>Background:</strong></p><p>According to experts logistics outsourcing is a process and companies should develop their understanding about it as a process. Literature suggests a systematic and strategic approach for this process and also presents different models and aspects to improve logistics outsourcing as a process. But some scholars reveal a gap in literature regarding logistics outsourcing process in SMEs. They suggest in the discussion regarding logistics outsourcing as a process SMEs are totally ignored and there is a need to conduct research on this topic with perspective of SMEs. They also suggest the practices of SMEs in logistics outsourcing process are different from suggested process in literature.</p><p><strong>Research Questions:</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><em>Q.1: According to the literature, how should companies develop and perform logistics outsourcing process?</em></p><p><em>Q.2: How does the logistics outsourcing process in SMEs differ from the process suggested in the literature?</em></p><p><em>Q.3: Why do the practices of SMEs regarding logistics outsourcing process differ from the process suggested in the literature?</em></p><p><strong>Purpose of the Study: </strong></p><p>The purpose of this study is to reduce the gap in literature regarding logistics outsourcing in SMEs by studying their logistics outsourcing process to identify and understand the differences in their practices as compare to suggested process in literature.</p><p><strong>Methodology</strong>:</p><p>This thesis is written from a positivistic perspective with a deductive approach. For this thesis multiple-case studies are employed by using qualitative research method. For empirical data collection semi-structured interviews are used and pattern matching is used as analysis method.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong></p><p>Taiwanese SMEs do not have very structured and systematic process for logistics outsourcing which is exactly opposite to the suggested process by literature.  These SMEs are also performing some suggested aspects of logistics outsourcing process but not as recommended in literature and these aspects are also not integrated as a process. According to our findings, lack of understanding about logistics outsourcing as a process, limitation of resources and lack of interest of top management are main reasons for these differences in the practices of SMEs regarding logistics outsourcing process from the suggested process in literature. We also find that the reviewed literature and suggested models of logistics outsourcing process are focusing on strategic partnership between 3PLs and companies but the partnership between SMEs and their logistics services providers is more tactical in nature. This is also a possible reason of this difference.</p>

Background: According to experts logistics outsourcing is a process and companies should develop their understanding about it as a process. Literature suggests a systematic and strategic approach for this process and also presents different models and aspects to improve logistics outsourcing as a process. But some scholars reveal a gap in literature regarding logistics outsourcing process in SMEs. They suggest in the discussion regarding logistics outsourcing as a process SMEs are totally ignored and there is a need to conduct research on this topic with perspective of SMEs. They also suggest the practices of SMEs in logistics outsourcing process are different from suggested process in literature. Research Questions: Q.1: According to the literature, how should companies develop and perform logistics outsourcing process? Q.2: How does the logistics outsourcing process in SMEs differ from the process suggested in the literature? Q.3: Why do the practices of SMEs regarding logistics outsourcing process differ from the process suggested in the literature? Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to reduce the gap in literature regarding logistics outsourcing in SMEs by studying their logistics outsourcing process to identify and understand the differences in their practices as compare to suggested process in literature. Methodology: This thesis is written from a positivistic perspective with a deductive approach. For this thesis multiple-case studies are employed by using qualitative research method. For empirical data collection semi-structured interviews are used and pattern matching is used as analysis method. Conclusion: Taiwanese SMEs do not have very structured and systematic process for logistics outsourcing which is exactly opposite to the suggested process by literature.  These SMEs are also performing some suggested aspects of logistics outsourcing process but not as recommended in literature and these aspects are also not integrated as a process. According to our findings, lack of understanding about logistics outsourcing as a process, limitation of resources and lack of interest of top management are main reasons for these differences in the practices of SMEs regarding logistics outsourcing process from the suggested process in literature. We also find that the reviewed literature and suggested models of logistics outsourcing process are focusing on strategic partnership between 3PLs and companies but the partnership between SMEs and their logistics services providers is more tactical in nature. This is also a possible reason of this difference.

Cieľom diplomovej práce je stanoviť aké je postavenie typického poskytovateľa služieb 4PL na príklade spoločnosti Allyn International Services Inc. vo vzťahu k jej klientom a k ostatným poskytovateľom logistických služieb, a to predovšetkým v prostredí Európskej Únie.

Due to restricted budgets of relief organizations, costs of hiring transportation service providers steer distribution decisions and limit the impact of disaster relief. To improve the success of future humanitarian operations, it is of paramount importance to understand this relationship in detail and to identify mitigation actions, always considering the interdependencies between multiple independent actors in humanitarian logistics. In this paper, we develop a game-theoretic model in order to investigate the influence of transportation costs on distribution decisions in long-term relief operations and to evaluate measures for improving the fulfillment of beneficiary needs. The equilibrium of the model is a Generalized Nash Equilibrium, which has had few applications in the supply chain context to date. We formulate it, utilizing the construct of a Variational Equilibrium, as a Variational Inequality and perform numerical simulations in order to study the effects of three interventions: an increase in carrier competition, a reduction of transportation costs and an extension of framework agreements. The results yield important implications for policy makers and humanitarian organizations (HOs). Increasing the number of preselected carriers strengthens the bargaining power of HOs and improves impact up to a certain limit. The limit is reached when carriers set framework rates equal to transportation unit costs. Reductions of transportation costs have a consistently positive, but decreasing marginal benefit without any upper bound. They provide the highest benefit when the bargaining power of HOs is weak. On the contrary, extending framework agreements enables most improvements when the bargaining power of HOs is strong.

Background:                 The development of recent means of transportation, information has increased opportunities for global business and it is very common that the companies involved in global business often need to outsource logistic function, as they cannot perform global logistics on their own. The need of service effectiveness for companies and operations efficiency from logistics service providers involves the minimization of the uncertainties associated with logistics outsourcing, therefore risks reduction measures must be implemented using logistics outsourcing. Research questions:     ­-    How do the Pakistani manufacturing and exporting companies currently outsource their logistics function in their downstream supply chain? -           What benefits they seek with respect to 3PL and 4PL? -           What factors they consider for outsourcing logistics? Purpose:                       To investigate the current logistics outsourcing situation of the Pakistani Manufacturing and Exporting Companies. What logistics functions they outsource, and the focus of the study is downstream supply chain. To study application of logistics outsourcing concepts i.e. 3PL and 4PL, services provided by these providers, and what benefits companies seek. What factors are important for them for logistics outsourcing and what fectors they consider for logistics outsourcing, what factors among these are important for them, who make the decision for logistics outsourcing? Method:                        The empirical data and the conclusions made from it are based on quantitative facts and figures collected through an e-survey. Results are drawn from responses of manufacturing companies that all outsource logistics. This thesis is written from a positivistic perspective with a deductive approach. Conclusions:                 The current logistics outsourcing situation in Pakistan is found to be uneven companies majorly concerned in textile manufacturing and are not in knowledge of the newer logistics outsourcing 4PL. Downstream supply chain is followed by cross-docking shipments. Cost factor is not that much important for companies but the timely delivery is more important.

The outsourcing of the business logistics activities have became a trend. The goals of my research want to understand that: (1) The outsourcing extent of the logistics activities. (2) The logistics outsourcing considered factors. (3) How the firm size affect the (1) and (2). (4) How the logistics network complexity affect the (1) and (2). The research¡¯s samples are the PC and peripheral equipment companies in Taiwan. The capital, the revenue, and the number of the employee measure the size of a firm. The logistics network complexity is measured by the number of the customers, the number of the suppliers, the number of the countries that customers in, and the number of the countries that the suppliers in. The result shows that the companies think the cost saving factors is most important when they decide to outsource the activity. The great extent of the traffic transportation, salvage and scrap disposal and return goods handling are outsourced. The companies whose sizes are small put great emphasis on the ¡°logistics information systems¡± factors. The big companies have a tendency to outsource the physical moved activities like traffic transportation, salvage and scrap disposal. The small companies are apt to outsource the process handling activities. In the logistics network complexity, the suppliers make greater difference in the outsourcing logistics activities than the customers. The numbers of the countries affect the logistics outsourcing considered factors.

A terceirização logística é uma prática empresarial adotada por um número cada vez maior de organizações dos mais diversos setores. A opção pela terceirização logística costuma ser respaldada pela literatura. Porém, uma escolha errada pode se tornar uma fonte de insatisfação e falhas corporativas, acarretando na elevação do custo logístico, além de afetar a competitividade e a imagem da empresa. São inúmeros os casos de insucesso nos acordos de terceirização, sendo a maioria atribuída a deficiências no processo decisório. Desta forma, fica evidente a complexidade da decisão de terceirização logística, que envolve um grande número e diversidade de atributos interdependentes entre si, e a falta de compreensão, por parte dos executivos e das organizações, dos fatores que realmente afetam o processo decisório. Neste contexto, esta tese relata um estudo desenvolvido no cenário brasileiro sobre a decisão de terceirização logística sob o enfoque da organização contratante. Optou-se por analisar o processo de terceirização para operadores 3PL porque esta ainda é a tendência do mercado. O foco da pesquisa consiste em identificar os principais fatores que as organizações devem analisar em seu processo decisório de terceirização logística. Assim, as questões de pesquisa são: quais são os fatores envolvidos no processo decisório de terceirização logística e como eles impactam esta decisão? Portanto, foram utilizadas técnicas qualitativas, em um procedimento exploratório, e uma abordagem quantitativa, como um procedimento para confirmação de hipóteses. Inicialmente, foram realizadas entrevistas com executivos da área com o objetivo de verificar a aplicabilidade dos fatores selecionados para o modelo pesquisa. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos com empresas líderes de diferentes mercados que terceirizam atividades logísticas. Essa etapa da pesquisa ratificou e acrescentou fatores às hipóteses propostas com base na literatura. Enfim, a pesquisa survey confirmou o conjunto de fatores de decisão de terceirização. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento de pesquisa, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise de Item-Total Corrigido (CITC), Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória de Ordem Superior. Como resultado desse refinamento, emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo quatro fatores, sendo as dimensões de Estratégia, Custos, características do Ambiente, Características do Processo Logístico a ser terceirizado e características dos Operadores Logísticos disponíveis no mercado, dispostos em quinze itens. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é fornecer aos executivos da área um conjunto dos fatores determinantes para a decisão de terceirização logística, no contexto brasileiro, sob o ponto de vista do contratante, de modo a lhes auxiliar na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades logísticas. / Logistics outsourcing is a business practice adopted by a growing number of organizations from a large variety of sectors. The logistics outsourcing process is heavily supported by the literature. Nonetheless, a wrong decision can be a source of corporate problems that may lead to the increase of logistics costs, affecting the company's competitiveness and image. There is a high incidence of unsuccessful cases in outsourcing agreements, mostly due to failures in the decision making process. This fact highlights the complex nature of the logistics outsourcing decision, which involves a large number and a great variety of interdependent criteria, and the lack of understanding, on the part of executives and organizations, concerning the variables that affect the decision process. In this context, the present research reports on a study developed in the Brazilian scene on logistics outsourcing according to the perspective of the hiring company. It is important to mention that the research analyses the outsourcing process to third-party logistics service providers (3PL) because this is still the market tendency. The focus of the thesis consists in identifying the main factors which the organizations should analyze in the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Hence this research aims to answer the following questions: which are the determinant variables in the decision process of logistics outsourcing and how do they impact on this decision? Thus, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, respectively in an exploratory and a confirmatory approach. Initially, interviews were held with logistics executives with the purpose of examining the applicability of the variables selected for the hypothetical model. A multiple case study was also developed in three leading organizations from different sectors that have their logistics activities outsourced. With the case study methodology, the factors were ratified and some variables were added to the hypotheses. Eventually, a survey research confirmed the set of the determinant variables for the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Different quantitative procedures were used to refine the research instrument, such as Reliability Analysis, Corrected Item-Total Correlation (CITC) Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The structural model confirmed 20 hypotheses. The result was a model with five factors - Strategy, Costs, Environmental characteristics, Characteristics of the Logistics Process and characteristics of the 3PL providers available in the market - and fifteen variables. The main contribution of this research to the business practice is the development of a set of the main variables that logistics managers may analyze in the decision making process of whether to outsource their logistics activities or not.

A terceirização logística é uma prática empresarial adotada por um número cada vez maior de organizações dos mais diversos setores. A opção pela terceirização logística costuma ser respaldada pela literatura. Porém, uma escolha errada pode se tornar uma fonte de insatisfação e falhas corporativas, acarretando na elevação do custo logístico, além de afetar a competitividade e a imagem da empresa. São inúmeros os casos de insucesso nos acordos de terceirização, sendo a maioria atribuída a deficiências no processo decisório. Desta forma, fica evidente a complexidade da decisão de terceirização logística, que envolve um grande número e diversidade de atributos interdependentes entre si, e a falta de compreensão, por parte dos executivos e das organizações, dos fatores que realmente afetam o processo decisório. Neste contexto, esta tese relata um estudo desenvolvido no cenário brasileiro sobre a decisão de terceirização logística sob o enfoque da organização contratante. Optou-se por analisar o processo de terceirização para operadores 3PL porque esta ainda é a tendência do mercado. O foco da pesquisa consiste em identificar os principais fatores que as organizações devem analisar em seu processo decisório de terceirização logística. Assim, as questões de pesquisa são: quais são os fatores envolvidos no processo decisório de terceirização logística e como eles impactam esta decisão? Portanto, foram utilizadas técnicas qualitativas, em um procedimento exploratório, e uma abordagem quantitativa, como um procedimento para confirmação de hipóteses. Inicialmente, foram realizadas entrevistas com executivos da área com o objetivo de verificar a aplicabilidade dos fatores selecionados para o modelo pesquisa. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos com empresas líderes de diferentes mercados que terceirizam atividades logísticas. Essa etapa da pesquisa ratificou e acrescentou fatores às hipóteses propostas com base na literatura. Enfim, a pesquisa survey confirmou o conjunto de fatores de decisão de terceirização. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento de pesquisa, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise de Item-Total Corrigido (CITC), Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória de Ordem Superior. Como resultado desse refinamento, emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo quatro fatores, sendo as dimensões de Estratégia, Custos, características do Ambiente, Características do Processo Logístico a ser terceirizado e características dos Operadores Logísticos disponíveis no mercado, dispostos em quinze itens. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é fornecer aos executivos da área um conjunto dos fatores determinantes para a decisão de terceirização logística, no contexto brasileiro, sob o ponto de vista do contratante, de modo a lhes auxiliar na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades logísticas. / Logistics outsourcing is a business practice adopted by a growing number of organizations from a large variety of sectors. The logistics outsourcing process is heavily supported by the literature. Nonetheless, a wrong decision can be a source of corporate problems that may lead to the increase of logistics costs, affecting the company's competitiveness and image. There is a high incidence of unsuccessful cases in outsourcing agreements, mostly due to failures in the decision making process. This fact highlights the complex nature of the logistics outsourcing decision, which involves a large number and a great variety of interdependent criteria, and the lack of understanding, on the part of executives and organizations, concerning the variables that affect the decision process. In this context, the present research reports on a study developed in the Brazilian scene on logistics outsourcing according to the perspective of the hiring company. It is important to mention that the research analyses the outsourcing process to third-party logistics service providers (3PL) because this is still the market tendency. The focus of the thesis consists in identifying the main factors which the organizations should analyze in the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Hence this research aims to answer the following questions: which are the determinant variables in the decision process of logistics outsourcing and how do they impact on this decision? Thus, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, respectively in an exploratory and a confirmatory approach. Initially, interviews were held with logistics executives with the purpose of examining the applicability of the variables selected for the hypothetical model. A multiple case study was also developed in three leading organizations from different sectors that have their logistics activities outsourced. With the case study methodology, the factors were ratified and some variables were added to the hypotheses. Eventually, a survey research confirmed the set of the determinant variables for the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Different quantitative procedures were used to refine the research instrument, such as Reliability Analysis, Corrected Item-Total Correlation (CITC) Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The structural model confirmed 20 hypotheses. The result was a model with five factors - Strategy, Costs, Environmental characteristics, Characteristics of the Logistics Process and characteristics of the 3PL providers available in the market - and fifteen variables. The main contribution of this research to the business practice is the development of a set of the main variables that logistics managers may analyze in the decision making process of whether to outsource their logistics activities or not.

A terceirização logística é uma prática empresarial adotada por um número cada vez maior de organizações dos mais diversos setores. A opção pela terceirização logística costuma ser respaldada pela literatura. Porém, uma escolha errada pode se tornar uma fonte de insatisfação e falhas corporativas, acarretando na elevação do custo logístico, além de afetar a competitividade e a imagem da empresa. São inúmeros os casos de insucesso nos acordos de terceirização, sendo a maioria atribuída a deficiências no processo decisório. Desta forma, fica evidente a complexidade da decisão de terceirização logística, que envolve um grande número e diversidade de atributos interdependentes entre si, e a falta de compreensão, por parte dos executivos e das organizações, dos fatores que realmente afetam o processo decisório. Neste contexto, esta tese relata um estudo desenvolvido no cenário brasileiro sobre a decisão de terceirização logística sob o enfoque da organização contratante. Optou-se por analisar o processo de terceirização para operadores 3PL porque esta ainda é a tendência do mercado. O foco da pesquisa consiste em identificar os principais fatores que as organizações devem analisar em seu processo decisório de terceirização logística. Assim, as questões de pesquisa são: quais são os fatores envolvidos no processo decisório de terceirização logística e como eles impactam esta decisão? Portanto, foram utilizadas técnicas qualitativas, em um procedimento exploratório, e uma abordagem quantitativa, como um procedimento para confirmação de hipóteses. Inicialmente, foram realizadas entrevistas com executivos da área com o objetivo de verificar a aplicabilidade dos fatores selecionados para o modelo pesquisa. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos com empresas líderes de diferentes mercados que terceirizam atividades logísticas. Essa etapa da pesquisa ratificou e acrescentou fatores às hipóteses propostas com base na literatura. Enfim, a pesquisa survey confirmou o conjunto de fatores de decisão de terceirização. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento de pesquisa, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise de Item-Total Corrigido (CITC), Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória de Ordem Superior. Como resultado desse refinamento, emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo quatro fatores, sendo as dimensões de Estratégia, Custos, características do Ambiente, Características do Processo Logístico a ser terceirizado e características dos Operadores Logísticos disponíveis no mercado, dispostos em quinze itens. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é fornecer aos executivos da área um conjunto dos fatores determinantes para a decisão de terceirização logística, no contexto brasileiro, sob o ponto de vista do contratante, de modo a lhes auxiliar na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades logísticas. / Logistics outsourcing is a business practice adopted by a growing number of organizations from a large variety of sectors. The logistics outsourcing process is heavily supported by the literature. Nonetheless, a wrong decision can be a source of corporate problems that may lead to the increase of logistics costs, affecting the company's competitiveness and image. There is a high incidence of unsuccessful cases in outsourcing agreements, mostly due to failures in the decision making process. This fact highlights the complex nature of the logistics outsourcing decision, which involves a large number and a great variety of interdependent criteria, and the lack of understanding, on the part of executives and organizations, concerning the variables that affect the decision process. In this context, the present research reports on a study developed in the Brazilian scene on logistics outsourcing according to the perspective of the hiring company. It is important to mention that the research analyses the outsourcing process to third-party logistics service providers (3PL) because this is still the market tendency. The focus of the thesis consists in identifying the main factors which the organizations should analyze in the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Hence this research aims to answer the following questions: which are the determinant variables in the decision process of logistics outsourcing and how do they impact on this decision? Thus, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, respectively in an exploratory and a confirmatory approach. Initially, interviews were held with logistics executives with the purpose of examining the applicability of the variables selected for the hypothetical model. A multiple case study was also developed in three leading organizations from different sectors that have their logistics activities outsourced. With the case study methodology, the factors were ratified and some variables were added to the hypotheses. Eventually, a survey research confirmed the set of the determinant variables for the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Different quantitative procedures were used to refine the research instrument, such as Reliability Analysis, Corrected Item-Total Correlation (CITC) Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The structural model confirmed 20 hypotheses. The result was a model with five factors - Strategy, Costs, Environmental characteristics, Characteristics of the Logistics Process and characteristics of the 3PL providers available in the market - and fifteen variables. The main contribution of this research to the business practice is the development of a set of the main variables that logistics managers may analyze in the decision making process of whether to outsource their logistics activities or not.

This Master's Thesis focuses on outsourcing of logistics services. In the theoretical part of the thesis there is a general description of outsourcing of logistics services, advantages and disadvantages of logistics outsourcing, history and current state of the logistic market and attitude of providers of logistics services towards sustainable development. Next part of the thesis describes phases of outsourcing process, types of contracts and tools that help control outsourcing relationship. In the practical part of the thesis in-depth interviews are used to analyze needs of 3PL client. Based on the information gathered from the in-depth interviews recommendations are created. These recommendations are supposed to raise client's satisfaction and evolve and improve cooperation. The aim of this Master's Thesis is to determine gaps between client's request and real state of provided services.