Abstract
This paper introduces a new mathematical model for analyzing the economic benefits of incorporating the fourth party logistics (4PL), which is a contractor (i.e. agent) for the supply chain coordination and construction based on the division of community and the outsourcing development. Based on the physical theory and the wave-particle duality, a supply chain is the special organization whose characteristic has wave-particle duality. The mathematical model enriches the connotation of 4PL and it broadens the thought for 4PL development. Secondly, the proposed mathematical model predicated on transaction costs, is supported by Transaction Cost Theory (TCT) and acts as the theoretical analysis tool of 4PL for coordinating 3-party generic supply chain. Through the model, some trendy conclusions can be drawn to provide theoretical support for 4PL’s practices. Finally, a case illustrates our conclusions.
Keywords
Citation
Ji, G. (2009), "Study on 4PL as coordinating and constructing agent for supply chain systems: transaction cost theory approach and wave-particle duality", Journal of International Logistics and Trade, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 71-105. https://doi.org/10.24006/jilt.2009.7.1.71
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009 Jungseok Research Institute of International Logistics and Trade
License
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited