The impact of transaction attributes on logistics outsourcing success: A moderated mediation model

While an increasing number of firms outsource their logistics activities, the failure rate of logistics outsourcing is still high. To address such issue, this study draws upon transaction cost theory (TCT) and extended resource-based view (ERBV) to examine the mechanism through which transaction attributes (i.e., 3 PL providers' asset specificity and logistics technological uncertainty) affect logistics outsourcing success. We argue that top management plays an essential role in mediating transaction attributes to exercise their influences on logistics outsourcing success. However, such a mediating mechanism is effective only when trustworthy alternative 3 PL providers are available in the market. The data from 250 manufacturing subsidiaries in China are used to test our model. Important implications for research and practices are discussed.