Managing Outsourced Logistics Service Projects as Complex Networked Resources

Abstract

A single case study of outsourced project-organized logistics services reveals particularities of managing this form of logistics operations. Focusing on features of business relationships, interaction strategy, value creation, and the interplay between these factors, organizing project management of outsourced logistics services is considered to enhance market capability. Complexity is found through the case at two levels, the supply chain structure changing albeit at a slower pace than service processes. Service management therefore supports value creation at the project’s process level while also dealing with changing constraints at the project network level as a contextual factor. Furthermore, business relationships transcend the individual project organization; a third layer of investigation. This provides an analytical framework for studying strategic management of outsourced logistics services.