3 Multinational Logistic Firms in Singapore: Strategies & Global Impact - Essay Sample

Introduction

The research focused on three multinational logistic firms in Singapore i.e., Mac-Nels Line (S) Pte Ltd, CWT Globelink Pte Ltd, and Agility Logistics. The three companies have core strategies in connecting with buyers and sellers through the provision of logistics support and trading solutions. It is also essential to note that the companies' stories parallel the emerging markets in the global economy, and with their integrated logistics services, control a more significant portion of Singapore's Logistics and Supply Chain industry. The researcher conveniently adopted a mixed research design involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Regarding the quantitative approach, a descriptive survey concerning the use of questionnaires was adopted.

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A descriptive survey focused on asking questions on the characteristics of the population as well as the situations under study. Again, the quantitative approach helped reduce the data collected into numbers that are then processed by the adoption of various statistical computations in the form of regression, frequencies, correlation, and charts necessary for the analysis of the data gathered. In this study, the researcher chose the interviewing technique to collect essential data for the study's development based on the qualitative study aspect.

A qualitative approach was adopted to seek empirical support for the research questions, thereby relying heavily on observation as well as in-depth interviews resulting in non-numerical data. Sampling is described by Sekaran (2003) as the process that involves the selection of numbers of the right type of an element from a certain population to aid in a given study. However, the population is the complete set of elements (individual scores) that the investigator is interested in studying. An element relates to the single member of the population.

According to Fink (1995), a sample relates to the portion or subset of the population, the size determined by the study type and objective, as well as the financial and the time constraints. Sampling, thus, is the method of drawing particular samples. It is an essential part of research since it enables the researchers to generalize findings, as it is not possible to examine the entire population.

As such, the samples were not drawn from the whole population in this study due to financial, time, and human resource constraints; thus, it is believed that the samples obtained will provide the researchers with more reliable results. The sample size shows the number of the sample frame adopted for the calculation of estimates within the study population. In the selection of the sample size of the customer and the staff within the five multinational logistic firms for the survey, the Slovin's sampling methods were adopted.

The formula is presented as; n=n/[1+N(e) 2] (where n=sample size, N=sample frame and e=margin of error/ confidence level). As indicated, a sample frame of 400 customers and staff was estimated, and a margin of 5% was adopted since the method reduced the possibility of non-response to the minimal level. Using the Slovin's formula the sample size for customers and staff was computed as;

n=N1+Ne2. n=4001+4000.052 =150

The sample size of 150 customers and staff was considered from the five selected multinational logistic firms in Singapore. This decision was arrived at because of the time and the resource constraints on the researcher's part.

The study adopted judgemental or purposive sampling. Judgemental sampling enables a researcher to employ his or her judgment in selecting the cases that would address the research questions and meet the study objectives. Since the study focused on the multinational logistic firms in Singapore, it was essential to select the respondents from the supply chain functions. The researcher mainly used the questionnaire as the research instrument. The type of questionnaires adopted for the study included the self-administered questionnaires majorly the delivery and collection questionnaires. These questionnaires were delivered by hand to the various participants and collected later.

This was done to give the respondents adequate time to answer the questions in their free time. In overcoming the shortfalls that could emanate from the questionnaires, interviews were also administered to collect more information that could be sufficient in addressing the research questions, thereby meeting the research objectives. To collect the data, the researcher designed and administered questionnaires to the respondents. The research also involved in-depth interviews. The relevant departments within the sampled logistic firms were supplied with the questionnaires. The questions were structured based on the literature and the research findings from other scholars.

The researcher also interviewed some of the employees who are responsible for the management of the on-time deliveries within the logistic firms. The research also adopted the secondary data from the internet, academic surveys, articles, journals, books, and newspapers. The secondary information was gathered through a literature review from books, journals, and periodicals. In the study, the researchers only focussed on three logistic firms in Singapore. In my opinion, this was not a clear representation of all the multinational logistics firms in Singapore. It is important to note that the research adopted purposive sampling to a great extent.

However, in my opinion, the adoption of a random sampling of multinational logistics companies could play a significant role in the elimination of eminent biases that could be portrayed by purposive sampling. The information obtained could then be considered a uniform portrayal of the study objectives across various multinational logistics firms in Singapore. Again, the interview questionnaires and interview schedules were majorly closed-ended. As such, in my opinion, I would recommend a more open-ended questionnaire as well as interview schedules to capture a more detailed response regarding the perceptions and the views of the respondents within the multinational logistics firms.

The Outcomes Achieved On the Project

The findings also indicate that GPS tracking also has a significant influence on the on-time deliveries. According to various researchers, the tracing and tracking of logistics networks have been previously as essential issues within the global supply chain management (Brouwer & Mariotti, 2014). Such tracking systems have been considered a search for competitive advantage among several multinational logistic firms (Bellini et al., 1999).

There is no universally recognized definition of tracing and tracking, particularly in the logistic literature. For instance, tracking has always been considered the act of collection and management of information, particularly relating to the current locations of particular products as well as the delivery of items.

It is important to note that the project outcomes were essential in meeting the objectives. For instance, the project found out that the transportation management system relates to the logistic platform that uses technology to facilitate planning, execution, and optimization of the physical movement of goods to ensure the compliant shipment and proper documentation (Bellini et al., 1999).

The transport management system has a significant influence on the on-time deliveries. For instance, deep and broad visibility emanating from the system results in more efficient planning, transportation as well as execution of various logistics activities. This subsequently results in more sales, thus facilitating the growth of multiple businesses.

The transportation management systems come along with series of benefits such as a reduction in the cost for businesses, simplification of the process of the supply chain across carrier and geographies as well as the automation of various business operations for some accurate and faster billings within the multinational logistics firms (Hill & Scudder, 2002). The transportation management systems result in customer satisfaction as well as better export and import compliance, thus minimizing shipment delays and penalties.

Several researchers have always indicated that GPS tracking promotes the ability to monitor the fleets' whereabouts used in the supply chain in various multinational logistic firms. Tracking enables firms to plan routes to avoid events and traffic (Buurman, 2002). I also discovered that the GPS tracking system helps mitigate various travels and transport costs through the finding of faster routes.

From the study, I realized that in the multinational logistics firms, the GPS tracking system could be adopted to optimize various plans through the selection of drivers for some particular tasks (Bellini et al., 1999). It could also be noted that the GPS tracking devices within the multinational logistics firms can also increase the safety and performance of various drivers within the supply chain management.

Constant supervision of the vehicles as the drivers traverse various roads enable them to stay safe and responsible (Brouwer & Mariotti, 2014). The system also gives various multinational logistics firms a chance to incentivize better driving since there are enhanced insights regarding who is driving well and poorly. This could explain why most of the respondents within the multinational logistic firms agreed that GPS tracking systems play a significant role in supply chain management (Brouwer & Mariotti, 2014). Most importantly, from the findings, I discovered that the GPS systems within the logistics firms also offer better security in terms of transportation, distribution, and logistics. There is also associated with enhanced efficiency in operation related to the use of GPS tracking devices.

Enterprise resource planning also had a significant influence on the current on-site deliveries within the multinational logistic firms within in Singapore from the research findings (Brouwer & Mariotti, 2014). This finding conformed with other research that has often indicated that it is easy to ensure accuracy and customer satisfaction while shipping and receiving logistics solutions provided by enterprise resource planning.

It is also important to note that the ability of the logistics firms to monitor outgoing and the incoming items for order significantly contribute to the enhanced shipping, which is made possible by the enterprise resource planning. It has also been noted that enterprise planning improves the speed, efficiency, as well as the consistency in the interface, thus promoting the rapid shipment as well as receipt of goods enhancing reliability in tracking (Buurman, 2002). Most fundamentally, the enterprise resource planning plays a significant role in linking the various warehouses with the manufacturing operations and order processing with the sole aim of optimization, shipping, and the receiving processes (Christopher, 2011).

Furthermore, there are also several impacts that on-time deliveries may pose within the multinational logistic firms, especially in Singapore. For instance, according to this research findings, the on-time deliveries have a direct cost implication on shipping within the multinational logistics firms.

According to the results, on-time deliveries also have significant impacts on customer satisfaction. Researches also indicate that some consistent problems relating to the on-time deliveries are likely to cause issues that pose substantial effects on the supply chain within a multinational logistic firm (Christopher, 2011). For instance, it is essential to note that the challenges may include material shortages and overwhelming complaints from the customers.

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