- Title
- A reverse logistics competitiveness framework for fast-moving consumer goods retailers in Pretoria
- Creator
- Makaleng, Mpho Sharon Makgedi
- Subject
- Consumer goods
- Subject
- Logistics
- Date Issued
- 2022-04
- Date
- 2022-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57798
- Identifier
- vital:58265
- Description
- The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector contributes significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the country. It is however regarded as one of the unpredictable sectors due to rapid technological advancements, new regulations, and intense competition. This has therefore led to the growth in importance of reverse logistics (RL) since the FMCG sector cannot avoid RL. This is because FMCG can be damaged in transit, recalled, returned due to unsatisfied customers, defects, or scrap material, amongst others. It is therefore important for the sector to implement RL practices and strategies that can lead to the firm’s competitiveness. This will further assist in recapturing the value of the products. Recently, RL has gained a lot of attention in both research and in practice. Nevertheless, not so much research has been done in the FMCG sector in SA. Through the implementation of RL practices, strategies and an effective RL management system, this sector will achieve many goals as well as lead to the firm’s competitiveness. The current study mainly sought to develop an RL competitiveness framework to help guide FMCG retailers. The study also investigated the RL practices, best practices, critical success factors (CSFs), strategies and their influence on the firm’s competitiveness. A positivist research philosophy, which combined descriptive and explanatory research was employed. Data was collected through two close-ended questionnaires, via SurveyMonkey, from 418 FMCG retailers and consumers. The descriptive results from the Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 showed that FMCG retailers to a great extent implement the recalling of products. The results also revealed that FMCG retailers have centralised returns centres, and they share information and collaborate with suppliers for effective remanufacturing of products that have reached their end of shelf life, as highly implemented RL best practice, amongst others. Little understanding of the importance of RL, high costs associated with adopting RL practices, lack of top management support on RL initiatives, high cost of RL technology and customers’ unwillingness to pay extra for any RL practices and initiatives were identified as the key RL challenges faced by FMCG retailers. The descriptive results further cited financial resources, employment of skilled personnel to handle RL, having knowledge on RL and technology as the extremely critical factors in the successful v implementation of RL among FMCG retailers. The following RL strategies were identified as the highly implemented among FMCG retailers: integration of forward logistics (FL) and RL, the implementation of new technology, the adherence to environmental policies and regulations, knowledge management, eco-compatibility, and strategic alliances The structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis conducted using AMOS version 27, revealed that RL practices have a positive and significant influence on RL strategies. The results also revealed that RL strategies have a positive and significant influence on the firm’s competitiveness. The mediation results revealed that RL strategies fully mediate the relationship between the firm’s competitiveness and RL practices. Based on the empirical results and reviewed literature, a conceptual model and an RL competitiveness framework were developed and suggested. Moreover, the study recommended that the managers increase customer awareness of RL practices implemented by FMCG retail firms, train and educate their personnel on RL, enhance RL strategies to improve RL practices implementation success, and enforce RL formal policies. This study significantly contributes towards the development of future studies in RL and firm competitiveness through new insight and contribution to the body of knowledge.
- Description
- Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (xvii, 294 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Business and Economic science
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Makaleng, S.pdf | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |