- P-ISSN1738-3110
- E-ISSN2093-7717
- SCOPUS, ESCI
ISSN : 1738-3110
Vol.23 No.11
Abstract
Purpose: This research aims to contribute constructively to the ongoing discourse surrounding COVID-19 pandemic responses by examining consumption patterns of basic necessities and everyday consumer goods in the hard-discount retail stores, while taking into account the chronological evolution of measures applied throughout the pandemic year. Research design and methodology: Data were collected from five hard-discount retailers over a four-year period and processed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis was conducted in two phases: the first involved calculating basic statistics, while the second focused on testing the research hypotheses. Results: Despite the implemented relief measures, sales variations remained significant throughout the three quarters of the pandemic year. All categories experienced significant increases in the first quarter, most in the second quarter, and fewer in the third quarter. The household products category exhibited the greatest variation, while the beverage category was the least impacted by the pandemic. Conclusions: This study enhances the understanding of consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing valuable insights for retailers and supply chain professionals. By identifying demand variation patterns and their implications, businesses can improve their resilience and adaptability in future crises, leading to more effective strategies for managing consumer needs and expectations.
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the influence of restrictive trade policies, channel conflict, and uncertain business environments on marketing channel satisfaction in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. It explores how external policy interventions and environmental volatility shape channel dynamics and satisfaction levels. Design/Methodology: A structured questionnaire was administered to channel members in the FMCG sector in Kerala. Data were analyzed using correlation and regression techniques to assess the direct effects of restrictive trade policies and channel conflicts. Data from 189 wholesalers and 262 retailers in Kerala in the FMCG Sector, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: The results indicate that restrictive trade policies and channel conflicts significantly and negatively impact channel satisfaction. Additionally, the uncertain business environment exacerbates these negative effects. Practical Implications: The findings provide actionable guidance for both policy-makers and marketing channel managers in the FMCG sector. Conclusions: This study contributes to marketing channel literature by integrating policy, conflict, and environmental perspectives into a single framework. It underscores the importance of understanding how macro-level restrictions and uncertainties interact with micro-level channel dynamics in shaping satisfaction, particularly in emerging market contexts. This study is very relevant in the field of distribution science.
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the determinants influencing Malaysian SMEs’ intention to adopt Halal traceability systems in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, aiming to support Malaysia’s goal of becoming a global Halal hub. Using the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the research explores technological, organizational, and environmental factors affecting adoption. Research design, data and methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 245 SMEs using structured questionnaires, and relationships among perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, top management support, employee training, government support, competitor pressure, and adoption intention were analyzed via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results show that perceived usefulness, top management support, government support, and competitor pressure significantly and positively influence adoption, while perceived ease of use and employee training negatively affect it, indicating that complexity and insufficient training may hinder uptake. Result: The findings underscore the importance of management commitment, functional value, and external pressures, alongside the need to simplify implementation. Conclusions: The study concludes that government incentives, regulatory facilitation, and policy frameworks are crucial for overcoming adoption barriers, while industry collaboration can foster best practices and readiness. This research contributes to Halal supply chain literature and provides practical guidance for policymakers, industry players, and SMEs to enhance Halal traceability adoption.
Abstract
Purpose: This study explores the demand for charter airline services in Thailand from a consumer experience perspective, emphasizing how service quality influences demand and distribution strategies. Research design and methodology: A quantitative method was employed through an online survey of 310 respondents. The questionnaire was structured around the 7Ps marketing mix and consumer experience concepts. Validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, while relationships between variables were tested through Structural Equation Modeling. Reliability and validity were confirmed with Cronbach’s alpha, Average Variance Extracted (AVE), and Fornell–Larcker criteria, ensuring methodological rigor. Results: Findings revealed that Price, Promotion, People, and Physical Evidence significantly influenced consumer experience, which in turn affected demand and distribution channels. Conversely, Product and Process showed no significant effect, while Place demonstrated only a minor role. The model presented excellent fit indices, confirming validity and robustness. Conclusions: The results emphasize the importance of service quality and personalized offerings in shaping consumer experience. Adopting a customer-centric approach that highlights tangible service quality and creates positive experiential value is essential to boost demand, foster loyalty, and strengthen competitiveness. These insights provide guidance for the airline industry to align service delivery with consumer expectations and support sustainable growth in Thailand’s charter airline market.
Abstract
Purpose: Digital transformation has become a critical driver of business performance in the contemporary era. This study examines the impact of social influence and facilitating conditions on business performance and explores the mediating role of digital capability among e-commerce-based MSMEs. Research Design, Data, and Methodology: A quantitative explanatory approach was employed. Primary data were collected through a structured survey of 228 e-commerce based MSMEs in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS. Results: The findings indicate that facilitating conditions significantly influence business performance, whereas social influence affects digital capability but does not directly impact business performance. Notably, digital capability does not act as a strong mediator between external factors and business performance. These results suggest that achieving digital success depends not only on technology adoption or social pressure but also on strategic readiness, distribution preparedness, and logistics support for efficient e-commerce fulfillment. Conclusion: This study urges MSMEs to enhance internal digital capabilities and align them with strategies and distribution, moving beyond infrastructure investment. It challenges the assumed mediating role of digital capability and contributes to SME theory and policy formulation.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to support the sustainability of the local tourism sector in South Sulawesi by analyzing the distribution of tourism experience value. Specifically, it investigates how social media promotion and destination accessibility influence tourists' revisit intention, with memorable tourism experience serving as a mediating variable. Research design, data, and methodology: A quantitative research approach was employed involving 210 domestic tourist respondents. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS software. The Sobel test was also conducted to examine the mediating effects. Results: The findings reveal that both social media promotion and destination accessibility have a positive and significant impact on the formation of memorable tourism experiences. In turn, memorable tourism experiences significantly influence revisit intention. However, social media promotion does not have a significant direct effect on revisit intention but rather exerts its influence indirectly through memorable experiences. In contrast, destination accessibility demonstrates both direct and indirect significant effects on revisit intention. Conclusions: This study supports the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework in the context of tourism distribution and highlights destination accessibility as a strategic factor in driving repeat visits. The results underscore the importance of digital promotional efforts and infrastructure development in enhancing tourism experience value and behavioral outcomes.
Abstract
Purpose: This study advances distribution science by examining how anticipatory management frameworks operate within distribution networks during supply chain crises, developing an integrated analytical approach to enhance system resilience through multi-stakeholder coordination whilst maintaining logistics efficiency. The research proposes the Integrated Proactive Distribution Management (IPDM) framework for navigating complex crisis environments characterised by technological disruption and supply chain volatility. Research design, data and methodology: The research employs methodological triangulation combining structural equation modelling with fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis across 237 stakeholders representing logistics experts, supply chain managers, and retail leaders. Stratified random sampling and comprehensive measurement validation examine interrelationships between anticipatory governance, stakeholder trust, and distribution resilience across supply chain interfaces. Results: The analysis reveals dual pathways through which anticipatory management enhances distribution system resilience: direct capacity-building mechanisms and indirect trust-mediated processes. Five configurational patterns emerge with consistency scores exceeding 0.858, whilst anticipatory capacity and stakeholder trust constitute necessary conditions for effective distribution network coordination. Conclusions: The IPDM framework reconceptualises strategic distribution management mechanisms that simultaneously preserve stakeholder collaboration whilst enhancing coordination effectiveness, providing actionable insights for distribution managers navigating crisis environments. The framework offers strategic flexibility for organisations with varying capabilities to achieve competitive advantage through superior crisis preparedness.
Abstract
Purpose: This investigation examines the non-linear relationship between macroeconomic volatility and distribution financing decisions through threshold analysis of Vietnamese distribution firms (2010-2024). Research design, data and methodology: We introduce the Distribution Resilience Financing (DRF) Framework, incorporating Institutional Buffering Capacity (IBC) as a threshold variable and employing dynamic panel threshold regression (DPTR) and panel vector autoregression (PVAR) methodologies to identify distinct institutional regimes with heterogeneous financing adjustment dynamics. Results: The findings reveal that high-IBC environments facilitate 127% faster adjustment speeds in distribution financing decisions, whilst enabling firms to maintain higher optimal leverage ratios for inventory management and supply chain operations. The macroeconomic volatility-distribution financing relationship exhibits significant regime dependence, with volatility impacts diminishing as institutional quality improves. Sectoral analysis demonstrates that logistics firms exhibit greater sensitivity to volatility than retailing operations, with more substantial adjustments to their Volatility-Adjusted Optimal Capital Structure (VAOCS) during turbulent periods. COVID-19 represents a structural break, necessitating reconsideration of distribution financing theory within emerging market contexts. Conclusions: These findings establish institutional quality not merely as a background factor, but as a primary, regime-dependent driver of financial resilience in distribution networks, offering critical lessons for strategic management and policymaking in emerging economies.
Abstract
Purpose: This study empirically investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Tobin’s q of firms operating in the logistics and distribution industries, focusing on whether the adoption of digital transformation and smart supply chain management, prompted by pandemic-induced disruptions, influenced firm valuation. Research design, data and methodology: Using Tobin’s q as the dependent variable, the study applies multivariate regression analysis on panel data from 2013 to 2023 to compare valuations before and after the pandemic. The pandemic period was marked by operational challenges such as supply chain bottlenecks, labor shortages, rising logistics costs, and shifts in consumer behavior. Results: The analysis reveals that after the pandemic, the Tobin’s q of logistics and distribution industry firms increased significantly, with the magnitude of this increase being significantly greater than that of firms in other industries. These firms exhibited greater agility, operational continuity, and data-driven decision-making, enabling them to navigate disruptions more effectively and sustain performance during uncertainty. Conclusions: Despite store closures and revenue contractions posing severe threats during the pandemic, logistics and distribution industry firms demonstrated superior resilience compared to firms in other industries. By decentralizing logistics operations, leveraging automation, and utilizing predictive analytics, they mitigated risks and signaled long-term growth potential.
Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented disruptions in urban spatial structures and regeneration strategies across the world. This study seeks to explore the long-term spatial and policy implications of these transformations, focusing primarily on Seoul, Korea while drawing comparative insights from Amsterdam, Singapore, and New York. It aims to identify how cities adapted to post-pandemic realities through shifts in planning logic, governance innovation, and urban form. Research Design, Data and Methodology: The study employs an extensive literature review and comparative case study analysis to examine how pandemic-driven phenomena reshaped patterns of urban development, land use, and spatial organization. Particular attention is given to the integration of digital governance and sustainable recovery frameworks. Results: Findings indicate that COVID-19 accelerated the diffusion of smart-city technologies, expanded digital infrastructure for governance, and encouraged polycentric, green, and resilient urban transformations. Seoul’s coordinated Digital & Green New Deal policies exemplify a holistic recovery strategy linking technology, environment, and inclusivity. Conclusions: Comparative analysis reveals convergent trends in post-pandemic regeneration: reclaiming public spaces, enabling flexible land-use systems, and aligning recovery programs with climate and equity goals. These insights highlight that cities can “build back better” by institutionalizing resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability as enduring foundations of urban vitality.
Abstract
Abstract Purpose: This study aims to develop and validate a framework linking emotional design, system image, and technology acceptance to explain consumer adoption of Sustainable Product Service Systems (SPSS) within sustainable distribution. The research focuses on how affective experience design enhances value delivery and emotional engagement in eco-innovation. Research design, data and methodology: Using the Delphi method, a panel of 25 experts in sustainability, marketing, and distribution participated in three iterative rounds. Consensus was statistically evaluated through the Content Validity Ratio (CVR), and validated indicators were incorporated into a structured framework connecting emotional design and SPSS adoption through system image and technology acceptance. Results: The Delphi-based process successfully grouped these constructs into valid measurement items with confirmed conceptual legitimacy. Expert consensus ensured the reliability and coherence of each indicator. However, since this study focused on developing and validating items, future quantitative research should empirically test causal relationships among variables to achieve statistical generalization. Conclusions: The findings provide theoretical and managerial implications for designing sustainable distribution strategies. While expert validation confirmed the framework’s soundness, further research using methods such as structural equation modeling is needed to strengthen empirical evidence and extend the framework’s predictive power for SPSS adoption and sustainable distribution transformation.
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines how organizational justice—including distributive, procedural, and interactional dimensions—affects organizational performance through the lens of distribution fairness across generations. It investigates how perceptions of justice and fair distribution influence job satisfaction and organizational commitment as mediators, and how psychological empowerment moderates these distribution-driven relationships among Millennials and Generation Z (MZ) employees. Research design, data and methodology: A total of 300 employees from Korea’s manufacturing and service industries participated. Using a five-point Likert scale, data was analyzed via SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS Macro. Validity and reliability were verified (KMO=.955, Bartlett’s χ²=3531.981, p<.001; Cronbach’s α>.80). Regression analyses tested the direct and indirect distributional effects of justice variables on performance across MZ and non-MZ cohorts. Results: Distributive and procedural justice significantly improved organizational performance for both generations, whereas interactional justice was not significant. The explanatory power of the MZ model (Adj. R²=.559) exceeded that of non-MZ (.454). Distribution-related fairness positively affected satisfaction and commitment, especially for MZ employees, and empowerment amplified these justice–attitude relationships. Conclusions: Distribution fairness within organizational justice systems is central to sustaining high performance. Promoting transparent reward distribution, equitable procedures, and empowerment strengthens satisfaction, commitment, and productivity—particularly for MZ workers who value inclusive and participatory distribution structures.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate how the characteristics of complex shopping malls as the third place influence consumers’ quality of life. To achieve this goal, the third place was conceptualized in terms of spatial characteristics and operationalized through four dimensions: concentration place, communication place, self-expression place, and relaxation place. The research sought to elucidate how these third-place attributes within complex shopping malls affect consumers' quality of life through retail therapy. Research design, data and methodology: To empirically test the proposed model, a survey was conducted targeting consumers who had visited a complex shopping mall located in the Suwon area of South Korea. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The findings revealed that three third place characteristics—concentration, self-expression, and relaxation—significantly and positively influenced retail therapy. However, the communication place characteristic was not statistically significant. Furthermore, retail therapy was found to positively affect both the cognitive and affective dimensions of well-being, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life of consumers. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of understanding complex shopping malls not merely as consumption spaces, but as psychologically and socially meaningful environments for consumers. By fulfilling various psychological needs and offering experiential value, complex shopping malls can play a pivotal role in enhancing consumer well-being.
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates the effects of psychological capital (PsyCap)—comprising hope, resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy—on job engagement and burnout among salespeople in the pharmaceutical distribution sector. It further explores the mediating role of coping strategies. Research design, data and methodology: Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 207 sales representatives working at pharmaceutical companies in South Korea. The questionnaire employed validated scales to measure PsyCap, coping strategies, adaptive selling behavior, selling effort, and emotional exhaustion, each rated on a five-point Likert scale. Reliability and validity were confirmed, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Results: Results showed that PsyCap was positively associated with adaptive selling behavior and selling effort, and negatively associated with emotional exhaustion. Mediation analyses revealed that problem-focused coping strategies mediated the positive links between PsyCap and both selling effort and adaptive selling behavior, whereas emotion-focused coping explained its negative association with emotional exhaustion. Conclusions: This study highlights the role of psychological capital as an internal resource that fosters job engagement—positive work state—and reduces burnout. By identifying coping strategies as key mediators, the findings offer actionable insights for enhancing salesperson well-being and effectiveness in the pharmaceutical distribution sector.