Performance Framework in Third Party Logistics — A Cross National Literature Review

Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to provide a cross national framework of the literature review in the field of Third party Logistics (3PL).Design/methodology/approach: The comprehensive literature review including articles and peer-reviewed research papers published in peer reviewed international journals, selected reports and working papers between 1995 and 2014 have been examined. A total of 230 documents and papers have been scanned and 120 research papers have been studied, classified and analyzed on the basis of profile-country wise, author and factor profiling, content and methodology-related issues.Findings: The study is a wide-ranging review of the literature that highlights the work of researchers in 3PL domain. The paper attends to literature on variables like Service Quality (SQ), Organizational Effectiveness (OE) and Relationship Management (RM) along with several other variables used for the purpose of the researches conducted in the defined time period and reveals the empirical nature of 3PL researches. Researchers across the globe have used statistical tools like Structured Equation Modelling (SEM), Factor Analysis, SERVQUAL and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for the purpose data analysis of their research work. Research limitations/implications: Care has been taken to conduct a thorough search. Possibility however remains that some articles might have been missed out accidentally. Since the coverage has been exhaustive, it is hoped that possible omissions would not significantly alter the review and conclusion. Future research work should focus on managing 4PL and 5PL processes, supply chain partnership and their long term customer relationships.Originality/value: The paper fulfills the need for a reorganized and additional theoretical classification of 3PL studies. This paper identifies some lesser explored areas and provides a framework for performance management variables and tools to research academicians and practitioners