Research Projects

Asian V-Chain

    The general aim of the project is to facilitate the access of Asian SMEs to EU advanced and innovative organisational methodologies and ICT solutions designed for a more efficient management of industrial processes (negotiation, planning, scheduling, delivery etc.) and flows (materials, information, etc.). To facilitate this objective, the European partners will liase with the EU V FP project V-Chain (Virtual Enterprise for the Supply Chain Management) and disseminate the results as starting point for the development of advanced solutions in Asian industrial environment.

Relationship Management and supply chain integration

    The main objective of the project is to investigate trust, relationship commitment, and supply chain integration in the firms of Mainland China and Hong Kong. In the study, we identify the factors of trust and relationship commitment that influence process integration, develop measurement instrument for process integration and the factors that influence process integration. We also test the impact of supply chain process integration on firm performance. In order to test these relationships, we collect data from companies in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Findings from the study can help companies in Mainland China and Hong Kong enhance their global competitiveness by developing trust and building relationships with their trading partners that will enable them to have effective integrations of key processes within the supply chain.

Strategic postures of logistics service providers in Hong Kong

    The main aim of the project is to investigate the different strategies adopted by the third-party logistics service (3PLs) providers in Hong Kong using Porter’s competitive strategy framework. We also examine business environment, the operations priorities, application of information technology (IT), business performance, and future plans of the various strategic groups in the study. Data are collected from the 3PLs companies in Hong Kong. The findings will provide guidelines for logistic service providers to enhance their competitiveness and also offer suggestions for government agencies to formulate policies that can effectively support the logistics industries in Hong Kong.

The impact of information technology on performance of third Party Logistics Service Providers in China

    The first objective of the project is to examine the relationship between IT use and 3PL firms’ financial performance. The second objective of the project is to develop a taxonomy of information technology (IT) strategies among third-party logistic services (3PLs) providers in China and investigate the impact of IT strategies on IT advantages, competitive advantages, and financial performance. The data are collected from Mainland Chinese 3PLs companies. The findings will help third party logistics service providers in Mainland China to enhance their firm performance.

 Supply chain structure and the role of logistics services providers in the PRD

    The objectives of this study are to understand the current practices of supply chain management in various industries that operate in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and to understand the competitive position of Hong Kong as an international logistics hub serving the PRD. Field interviews are conducted with manufacturers that operate in the PRD. Secondary economic data and existing study reports are also used. The findings can help the Hong Kong logistics industry as a whole to better position itself in terms of the roles that it will play, the target customers that it will serve and the partnerships that should be developed with its counterpart service providers in the mainland. The study results could also serve as a reference for the government to prioritize initiatives or even provide the right incentives to industry.

 An Investigation of Operation Strategy in Mainland China and Hong Kong

    The main aim of the project is to examine the operations strategies, priorities and practices of companies in three cities of Mainland China and Hong Kong within six industries. The study identifies a taxonomy of operations strategies and compare (1) the emphases placed on different operations priorities and management programs, (2) competitive strengths in operations priority areas, and (3) business performance. The study also examines how the transformation from planned economy to market economy in different regions and industries of China influence the choice of operations priorities and analyze the relationship between competitive environment, operations priorities and the company’s performance. The findings give us a new knowledge of taxonomies and operations strategy theories on a developing and newly developed economy. The findings also provide valuable and timely information on the competitive status of companies in Mainland China and Hong Kong, and thus act as a basis for policy makers to assist companies to be more competitive and effective in the marketplace.