Running Heading: RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 1

COVER PAGE

THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION IN SUPPLY CHAIN

MANAGEMENT- CASE STUDY OF NAMSHI

 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 2

ABSTRACT

The transportation process in supply chain management regulates the effectiveness of moving

products from one place to another. Transportation assumes a critical part in the operation of

logistics. Revising the present condition, a robust supply chain system requires a pure frame

of suitable transport tools and techniques to connect the procedures in production. This a

proceeding study on the assignment conducted on the Namshi Online Shopping platform.

The objective of this assignment is to define the role of transportation in logistics, provide a

literature review on the previous related studies conducted, collect data, apply qualitative and

quantitative analysis to support the findings, and study an online course “Introduction to

Research Methodology.” The study revealed that supply chain and transportation are highly

correlated.

TABLE OF CONTENT
 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 3

COVER PAGE...........................................................................................................................1

ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................2

TABLE OF CONTENT.............................................................................................................3

LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................................5

Introduction............................................................................................................................5

THEORETICAL LITERATURE...............................................................................................5

Transportation theory.............................................................................................................5

The Theory of Constraints.....................................................................................................5

EMPIRICAL LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................6

RESEARCH DESIGN...............................................................................................................7

BUSINESS PROCESS MAP.....................................................................................................7

Sample Operations of Namshi Online Platform.....................................................................7

QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN..................................................................................................10

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA................................................................................11

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS..................................................................................................12

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS...............................................................................................16

FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION, AND CONCLUSION.................................................18

Introduction..........................................................................................................................18

Findings Summary...............................................................................................................19

Conclusion............................................................................................................................20

Recommendations................................................................................................................20
 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 4

ONLINE COURSE..................................................................................................................20

Introduction to Research Methodology................................................................................20

REFERENCE LIST.................................................................................................................21
 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 5

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

The literature review entails a summary of the existing literature connected to

transportation and supply chain. The literature review focuses on the theoretical framework,

the concept of transportation in supply chain management, and indicating empirical literature.

The chapter finalizes with the conceptual framework.

THEORETICAL LITERATURE

The study implements two main theories, which are; Transportation Theory and the

Theory of Constraints.

Transportation theory

Charles Horton Cooley put forward the theory of transportation. He described

transportation as a physical and spatial communication form. Charles Cooley further

developed an interconnection theory of evaluation and enunciated that value as an end of

action is formed and converted by interaction and communication. These perceptions propose

that transportation as a communication form will develop and revolve around economic

society by changing personal needs and values to change behaviors (Charles Horton Cooley,

2010). The theory indicates how practical the approach of interaction is in comprehending the

particular side of transportation phenomena.

The Theory of Constraints

Goldratt proposed the constraints theory, which has been used frequently in several

managing fields (Onofri, 2016). The concept suggests that at least one restraint in any

specific institution deters it from achieving its set goals and targets. The theory, as a result,

considers initiating and apply innovation enhancement.

 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 6

The theory proposes that the institutions have complications in transporting products

between the parties involved. Integrating logistics and transportation in the supply chain will

drive integration among partners. The constraint theory is consequently valuable in gauging

the impact of logistics and transport management on supply chain management performance

at the Namshi online platform.

EMPIRICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

The influence that transport and logistics have on institutions has been backed by

numerous studies undertaken. Nevertheless, the studies show diverse consequences of how

transportations and logistics practices alter the institution’s supply chain performance.

Bempong, A.E. (2019) researched ‘The Role of Transportation in Logistics Chain,’

intending to define the role transportation plays in logistics and the relationships between

transportation and logistics revealed the following; logistics and transportation systems have

dependent associations that logistics management requires transportation to execute its

operations, and in the intervening time, an effective logistics system helps to advance the

development of transportation. The enhancement of transport proficiency may perhaps

change the general logistics system performance. The logistics system analysis in a broad

sense can help integrate the advantages from the various case of application to bypass an

organization’s existing shortcoming.

(Shin, Collier and Wilson, 2000) did a study on the effect of logistics and transport on

the performance of firms. The study's conclusions discovered a positive connection between

logistics competencies and firms’ performance. This study will focus on determining if the

same relationship happens in the Namshi online platform.

Lai, Ngai, and Cheng, T. C. E, (2004) evaluated an experimental study on the

performance of supply chain in transport logistics. They performed a survey using the firms

in 3 transport industry sectors: sea and air transport, third-party logistics services, and freight
 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 7

forwarding to assess the supposed supply chain performance in transport logistics from both

services and cost perspectives. The findings indicated that all three sectors were developed,

reaching a particular level of sophistication in their supply chain performance. Conversely,

there were significant variances in the performance of the supply chain among the firms

within the three sectors. They varied in their perceived service efficiency towards consignees

and shippers and their procedure’s proficiency in-service performance. The discoveries from

their study avail managerial visions for companies in the industry to comprehend their supply

chain performance in transport logistics and learn from other firms to advance their

performance.

RESEARCH DESIGN

BUSINESS PROCESS MAP

Sample Operations of Namshi Online Platform

The sample operation at Namshi online platform is as follows; The client makes an

order in Namshi eCommerce system; Order particulars are extracted from Namshi

eCommerce platform and keyed in Namshi software for business; the order is then passed or

taken to the warehouse or godown to be processed; final, the order is placed for completion.

The diagrams below help to understand the detailed process at the Namshi Online platform.

The first diagram gives detailed information on the entire process. This involves receiving

orders from customers, processing the order in the warehouse, and shipping the products

ordered (Codeless Platforms, 2017).

The second diagram provides detailed information on how Namshi online shopping

receives orders from customers. The third diagram provides a summary of what happens

when products ordered arrive at Namshi’s warehouse. This explains how the order is
 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 8

processed at the company warehouse. Lastly, the fourth diagram summarizes the shipping

process for items ordered by the clients at Namshi online platform.

Diagram 1: Namshi overall sample operations

(Source: created for this study)

Diagram 2: Summary of how Namshi receive online orders

(Source: created for this study)

 RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 9

Diagram 3: The warehouse order processing

(Source: created for this study)

Diagram 4: The Shipping process

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 10

(Source: created for this study)

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 11

QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN

Part A: Demographic Characteristics

1. What is your role at Namshi? …………….…………….........

Part B: Logistics and Transportation Practices at Namshi Online Shopping

2. Transportation Management Systems

Kindly specify to what extent the following transportation management

practices have been executed at Namshi Online Shopping. Apply the scale of 1 – 5

with 5 implying Very great extent, 4 is a great extent, 3 is the moderate extent, 2 is the

small extent, and 1 implying Very small extent.

Table 1: Transport management System

Management of Transportation System 5 4 3 2 1
Vehicle maintenance policy
Computerized Transportation System
Proper Supplier Coordination Practices
Departmental Organization
Well-coordinated Fleet Management Practices
Customer Orientated Transportation Schemes
Fuel Management Practices

(Source: created for this study)

3. Operational Performance

Kindly indicate to what extent logistics and transportation have enhanced the

following measure of operational performance at Namshi Online Shopping. Apply the

scale of 1 – 5 with 5 implying Very great extent, 4 is a great extent, 3 is the moderate

extent, 2 is the small extent, and 1 implying Very small extent.

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 12

Table 2: Operational Performance

Operational Performance 5 4 3 2 1

Reduction in costs of production

Reduction in costs of distribution
Reduction in cost of Transaction
Customer level of satisfaction
Flexibility in delivery
Orders delay
Level of services
Quality process
(Source: created for this study)

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA

Primary data is defined as the data gathered by researchers from sources. In contrast,

secondary data is the data that has previously been gathered through primary sources and

made accessible for researchers and scholars to use during their investigation or research

(Lowry, 2015). Mainly primary data was used in this analysis. Questionnaires were used to

collect primary data, while secondary data was gathered from the website, articles, and

publications, among other sources. The table below shows the averaged variables of the

respondents’ feedback.
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 13

Table 3: Study Data collected on Namshi and its related population

Role Average Operational

transportation Performance
system rating Rating

Employee 4 5
Client 3 4
Distributor 4 3
supplier 4 3
Client 5 3
supplier 4 4
Employee 3 2
Employee 2 3
Distributor 5 4
supplier 4 3
Client 5 2
Client 2 3
Employee 5 5
Distributor 3 4
Employee 4 4
(Source: created for this study)

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Role of the Respondents

The bar chart below shows the role of the respondents and the gender distribution of

the respondents who were interviewed. Out of fifteen respondents, five were employees of

Namshi Online Shopping, four were clients of Namshi, three were suppliers, and three were

distributors.
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 14

Diagram 5: Role of the Respondents

(Source: created for this study)

The pie chart below shows the percentage distribution of the respondents’ role

Diagram 6: Role of the Respondent

(source: created for this study)

From the figure above, the majority of the respondents (33.33%) were employees.

Gender of the Respondents

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 15

Diagram 7: Gender Distribution

Source: created for this study

From the pie chart above, 53.33% of the respondents involved in this study were males, while
46.67% were female.

Transportation System

Diagram 8: Average Transportation System Rating

(Source: created for this study)

This study applied a five-point Likert scale. From the bar chart above, six respondents

rated the transportation system to have been executed to a great extent, four respondents rated
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 16

the transportation system to have been executed to a very great extent, 3 of the respondents

rated the transportation system to have been executed to a moderate extent, and 2 of the

respondents rated the transportation system to have been executed only to a small extent.

Operational Performance in Supply chain

The bar chart below displays details of the average operational performance in the

supply chain. This study employed a five-point Likert scale. From the bar chart below, six

respondents rated the operational performance to have been moderately improved by

transportation and logistics. 4 respondents rated the operational performance to have been

greatly improved by transportation and logistics. 2 respondents rated the operational

performance to have been improved by transportation and logistics to a very great extent, and

also two respondents rated the operational performance to have been advanced by transport

and logistics to a small degree.

Diagram 9: Average Operational Performance in Supply chain

(Source: created for this study)

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 17

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

Descriptive Statistics

The study findings in the table below indicate that the Average transportation system

rating has a mean of 3.80, a value close to 4, implying that transportation systems were

greatly executed. The Average Operational Performance Rating has a mean of 3.47, a value

close to 4, suggesting that the operations in the supply chain have been greatly enhanced. The

table below shows a summary of descriptive statistics.

Table 4: Descriptive Statistics

Std.
N Minimum Maximum Mean
Deviation
Average Operational
15 2 5 3.47 .915
Performance Rating
Average transportation
15 2 5 3.80 1.014
system rating
Valid N (listwise) 15
(Source: created for this study)

Correlation Coefficients

The correlation coefficient between Average Operational Performance Rating and

Average transportation system rating using a two-tailed test is 0.510. This means that there

exists a strong positive correlation between the two variables (Trafimow, 2015). The table

below shows a summary of correlation coefficients.

Table 5: Correlations

Average Average Operational

transportation system Performance Rating
rating
Average transportation Pearson 1 .185
system rating Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .510
N 15 15
(Source: created for this study)
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 18

Regression analysis

Regression analysis is a set of statistical methods for approximating the associations

between the predicted variable and one or more predictor variables (Freund, Wilson, and Sa,

2006). R square is the coefficient of determination that describes the variation in the

predicted variable explained by the predictor variable. From the study findings, the Average

transportation system explains 3.4% of the variation in Average Operational Performance

shown in the table below.

Table 6: Model Summary

Std. Error of the
Model R R Square Adjusted R Square
Estimate

.185 .034 -.040 .934

a. Predictors: (Constant), Average transportation system rating
b. Dependent Variable: Average Operational Performance Rating
(Source: created for this study)

Coefficients Regression analysis

Coefficients Regression indicates the magnitude and direction of the relationship

between a dependent variable and the predictor variable (Park et al., 2013). A negative sign

shows that as the independent variable increases, the predicted variable decreases. The

positive sign shows that as the regressor increases, the regressand also increases. In the table

below, when the average transportation system is zero, the average operational performance

is 2.833. The regression coefficient for average transportation system is 0.167, meaning,

holding other factors constant, a unit increase in average transportation system increases

average operational performance by 0.167 or 16.7%.

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 19

Table 7: Coefficients
Unstandardized Standardized
Model Coefficients Coefficients t Sig.
B Std. Error Beta
(Constant) 2.833 .966 2.934 .012
1 Average transportation
.167 .246 .185 .677 .510
system rating
a. Dependent Variable: Average Operational Performance Rating
(Source: created for this study)

From the table above, we can write the regression model as

Y =2.833+0.167 X

Where ; Y =Average operational performance ; X= A veragetransportation system

Analysis of Variance

ANOVA tests whether there exists a significant difference between means for the

groups (Tarlow, 2015). From the table below, 0.864 is the significance value which is below

0.05. Therefore, we accept the null hypothesis that there is no statistically significant

difference in the means of the variables, as shown in the table below.

Table 8: ANOVA

Average Operational Performance Rating

Sum of df Mean Square F Sig.
Squares
Between .733 3 .244 .244 .864
Groups
Within Groups 11.000 11 1.000
Total 11.733 14
(Source: created for this study)

FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION, AND CONCLUSION

Introduction

This section recapitulates the findings of the research as revealed in the previous area

of the data analysis. Specifically, this section discusses the results, providing conclusions and

recommendations on Namshi online platform.

RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 20

Findings Summary

The study pursued the impact of transportation on the operational performance in the

supply chain of the Namshi online platform. Namshi was selected because it has been

receiving fewer orders as compared to previous months. The study employed the descriptive

research strategy in acquiring data on the study area. The population considered 15

individuals, some of who were the employees, clients, suppliers, and distributors. Primary

data was gathered using a questionnaire and analyzed using inferential and descriptive

analysis. The findings found are summarized below.

The study revealed a strong correlation between the transportation management

system and operational performance in the supply chain. The correlation coefficient between

average operating performance rating and average transportation system rating using a two-

tailed test is 0.510. This means that there exists a strong positive correlation between the two

variables.

R square (coefficient of determination) was 0.034, implying that the transportation

management system explains a 3.4% variation in operational performance. This leaves 94.6%

variation in operating performance in the supply chain to be defined by other factors and

transportation management systems.

The findings also show that when the average transportation management system is

zero, the average operational performance is 2.833. The regression coefficient for average

transportation system is 0.167, implying, holding other factors constant, a unit increase in

average transportation system increases average operational performance by 16.7%.

From the descriptive statistics, the average transportation system rating had a mean of

3.80, a value close to 4, implying that most respondents rated the transportation systems

management to have significantly been executed while the average operational performance
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 21

rating had a mean of 3.47, a value close to 4, suggesting that the operations in the supply

chain are greatly enhanced through the transportation management system.

Conclusion

The study revealed that average operational performance in supply chain and

intermediate transportation systems are correlated. The study further revealed that the

transportation management system has a moderate effect on overall supply chain

performance. Consequently, the study concludes that an improvement in the transportation

management system will enhance overall supply chain performance. Since there exists a

positive correlation between transportation and supply chain performance, it can be deduced

that an improvement in the transportation operations results in improved supply chain

operational performance because improved transportation operations result in improved

speed of delivery and elasticity of transactions and information transmission, which

accommodate more well-organized management, and as a result higher profit and revenues.

Recommendations

The study recommends that the management at Namshi evaluates and monitors

transportation operations as this will enable the company to frame measures to guarantee

proper execution and successful transportation strategies. Evaluation and monitoring of the

transportation operations are necessary to the outstanding operational performance of the

supply chain at Namshi. As a result, the administration should consider the frequency and

timing evaluation process.

ONLINE COURSE

Introduction to Research Methodology

The MOOC course on Introduction to Research Methodology introduces students to

the essentials of educational research. The online course focuses on the various ideas and
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 22

philosophies underlying academic research in the field of education. The course focuses on

developing learners’ comprehension of research methodology with stress to pieces such as

checking plagiarism, identifying the research problem, using Statistical Package for Social

Sciences (SPSS), formulating a hypothesis, expressing research questions and research

objectives. It also involves design in research design, research strategies, data type, data

collection, and data interpretation techniques.

REFERENCE LIST

Bempong, A.E. (2019). The Role of Transportation in Logistics Chain. TEXILA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, 5(1), pp.147–161.

Charles Horton Cooley (2010). The Theory of Transportation. Kessinger Publishing.

Codeless Platforms. (2017). eCommerce Process Flow | Mapping eCommerce Processes

Workbook. [online] Available at: https://www.codelessplatforms.com/blog/ecommerce-
process-flow/.

Freund, R.J., Wilson, W.J. and Sa, P. (2006). Regression analysis. Oxford: Academic.

Lai, K., Ngai, E.W.T. and Cheng, T. C. E (2004). An empirical study of supply chain
performance in transport logistics. International Journal of Production Economics, 87,
pp.321–331.

Lowry, L. (2015). Bridging the Business Data Divide: Insights into Primary and Secondary
Data Use by Business Researchers. IASSIST Quarterly, 39(2), p.14.

Onofri, A. (2016). Two Constraints on a Theory of Concepts. Dialectica, 70(1), pp.3–27.

Park, B.U., Mammen, E., Lee, Y.K. and Lee, E.R. (2013). Varying Coefficient Regression
Models: A Review and New Developments. International Statistical Review, 83(1), pp.36–
64.

Shin, H., Collier, D.A. and Wilson, D.D. (2000). Supply management orientation and
supplier/buyer performance. Journal of Operations Management, 18(3), pp.317–333.
RESEARCH METHODS, DATA ANALYTICS AND PROJECT PLANNING 23

Tarlow, K.R. (2015). Teaching principles of inference with ANOVA. Teaching Statistics,
38(1), pp.16–21.

Trafimow, D. (2015). The attenuation of correlation coefficients: a statistical literacy issue.

Teaching Statistics, 38(1), pp.25–28.