Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction; 2. Managing Outbound Logistics and Distribution; 3. Supplier Selection and Procurement; 4. Warehouse Management; 5. Case Studies in Food Supply Chains; 6. Inland Ports in Global Supply Chains; 7. Climate Change in a Global Environment; 8. Sustainability in Infrastructure-Based Supply Chains; 9. Reverse Logistics; 10. Logistics Associations; 11. Logistics Education; 12. Case Exercises in Global Supply Chains; Index..
Purpose The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the rise of online learning in Hong Kong. Online learning was identified as the only solution to meet students' learning needs in the higher education sector during this chaotic period. This research aims to explore students' perceptions of online teaching and learning from home under a health emergency via a comparison of undergraduate and postgraduate students' experiences.
Design/methodology/approach A total of 174 postgraduate students and 286 undergraduate students in various universities and colleges in Hong Kong were surveyed in this study.
Findings The results show that postgraduate students generally gave more positive feedback on individual and environmental prerequisites, alongside pedagogical and institutional support, and were more motivated in online classes as compared to undergraduate students. Undergraduate students considered the shift to online education in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to be timely and rated their level of discipline with respect to online learning higher than did postgraduate students.
Originality/value This study enables educators to better understand the first-hand experiences of students across different levels of study in Hong Kong, as well as to examine the possibility of establishing online education as a more prevalent mode of study in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has educated us on the significance of being well-prepared to ensure quality education continues when emergencies and disturbances arise.
PurposeThe paper aims to address the gap in the literature related to students' mindsets and learning activities through investigation of the differences in students' expectations of, feelings towards, and perceptions of an overseas study tour based on their mindset. The study provides an in-depth analysis of students with different mindsets and proposes the use of overseas tours and intercultural learning to foster students' growth mindset.Design/methodology/approachAn overseas study tour hosted by a self-financing tertiary institution in Hong Kong was selected for investigation. 13 sub-degree students participated in the study tour during the summer term in 2018. Two types of primary data – quantitative (i.e., a questionnaire survey) and qualitative (i.e., in-depth interviews) – of fixed mindset and growth mindset students were collected for analysis.FindingsThe findings indicate differences in students' expectations of, feelings towards, and perceptions of an overseas study tour depending on whether they demonstrate a fixed or growth mindset. The growth mindset students had more and higher expectations of the study tour, all of which were related to personal growth and development. The fixed mindset students did not have as much of a desire for personal development and their expectations were easily met. Both growth and fixed mindset students had positive feelings and perceptions of the tour.Originality/valueResearch on the application value of overseas study tours in helping students from self-financing tertiary institutions develop a growth mindset is scarce, and thus warrants further investigation.
PurposeThis paper identifies the strategic changes and explores the solutions for talent development and leadership management to address the challenges faced by the funeral service industry in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven key personnel (funeral director, salesperson, coffin shop owner, and mortuary transporter) engaged in the funeral service industry in Hong Kong. Thematic coding was used to identify and organize emerging themes from the data.FindingsFour overarching themes were identified: (1) Perception of the funeral service industry in Hong Kong; (2) Recruitment, retention, and talent development; (3) Prospects of the funeral service industry in Hong Kong; and (4) Other novel challenges. The findings reveal continuous, radical, and complex challenges that may exceed the capacity of any leader to develop workable solutions.Originality/valueThe funeral service industry is facing radical challenges in modern times. A death-denying attitude is observed, which has severely undermined the study of the funeral service industry.
This paper examines the conditions of emergence of a hub in the distribution of wine. We illustrate this through a detailed discussion of wine distribution in Eastern Asia and an examination of the case of Hong Kong as an emerging regional wine hub. Indeed, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has imposed zero import tax on wine since June 2008. Since then, the city has attracted a large volume of wine from foreign countries and established a wine bond warehouse in the Asia-Pacific. In total, only 16% of the wine has served for local Hong Kong consumption, with 84% being transshipped to Macau and Mainland China. Well positioned at the heart of Chinese business diaspora with good global connections, Hong Kong is currently capturing important value from wine trade. But its position may be threatened by competing hubs (i.e. Singapore), if these are able to adapt to the needs of the rapidly changing market of wine. To analyze this situation, this paper uses the concept of agility, explaining how market knowledge, flexibility and responsiveness are key elements for regional competitiveness.
This paper examines the conditions of emergence of a hub in the distribution of wine. We illustrate this through a detailed discussion of wine distribution in Eastern Asia and an examination of the case of Hong Kong as an emerging regional wine hub. Indeed, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has imposed zero import tax on wine since June 2008. Since then, the city has attracted a large volume of wine from foreign countries and established a wine bond warehouse in the Asia-Pacific. In total, only 16% of the wine has served for local Hong Kong consumption, with 84% being transshipped to Macau and Mainland China. Well positioned at the heart of Chinese business diaspora with good global connections, Hong Kong is currently capturing important value from wine trade. But its position may be threatened by competing hubs (i.e. Singapore), if these are able to adapt to the needs of the rapidly changing market of wine. To analyze this situation, this paper uses the concept of agility, explaining how market knowledge, flexibility and responsiveness are key elements for regional competitiveness.
Purpose This paper aims to explore factors affecting young consumers' purchasing of new smart products under the influence of social media.
Design/methodology/approach Twenty semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with young consumers who used new media, and five extended interviews were conducted with popular smartwatch retailers in Macau.
Findings The findings reveal that they tend to garner product information from multiple channels of communication. Social media exert the greatest influence. Reliable information, strong branding and interactions with vendors are also influential, although new product pre-announcements may be boring and difficult to understand.
Originality/value This study presents new insights into diffusion of innovation theory and provides retailers launching smart products with a better understanding of their target young customers' purchasing behavior.
AbstractMost scientific attention on port studies centers on deep sea ports, especially container ports. In this paper, in contrast, attention is focused on the spatial–temporal development of inland waterway ports on the Midstream Yangtze River from 2001 to 2013. The aim of this study is to assess two relevant and complementary questions of the hinterland evolution: its geographical extent and the coordination relationship with the inland port. To conduct the study, it was necessary to first identify the boundaries of the ports' hinterlands within the given timeframe. Then, the coupling coordination degree model was introduced to explore the underlying relationship between the port service and hinterland economy. Furthermore, to better depict the intricate economic characteristics of the hinterland, the development stage theory was applied in the models. The results highlight the emergence of a discontinuous hinterland at Wuhan Port and its reinforcement of primacy with respect to fierce hinterland rivalry. It also demonstrates that an interplay between major ports and their corresponding hinterlands evolves from the transitional stage, characterized by lagging port service, to the multi‐stage, wherein the supply of ports partly outstrips hinterland demand.
AbstractCOSCO and China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) merged and reorganized as COSCO Shipping Lines in 2016. Through using a complex network methodology, we analyze the spatial patterns of their shipping networks before and after the merger. We evaluate the integration effects based on two main dimensions: network and hub economies. While complementarities are found between COSCO and CSCL networks before the merger, COSCO Shipping Lines increased the total number of service nodes and shipping routes significantly. The merger also had the effect of strengthening the hub capacity of 7 of the top 15 hub ports in the main markets covered by the new company. Results underline that this strategy of overseas pivotal ports promoted the development of hub economy and regional market expansion.
Population projections for Hong Kong suggest that the city will accommodate 8.22 million people in 2043. One in every three people are expected to be older than 65 in 2066. The long-held Chinese traditions for burial of deceased with reverence and honour, coupled with the chronic land shortage have presented an excessive demand for cemetery space. Niches are seldom recycled and the inadequate supply of new columbarium niche requires the family of the deceased to consider alternative way for keeping cremated ashes. To ease the demand, "green burial" has been launched and promoted by the HKSAR government through different print and social media. Currently, scattering of cremains in Gardens of Remembrance or at sea are the two common ways to perform green burial. The public acceptance of green burial is still a questionable and is under-researched. This study is going to deploy innovative technology, virtual reality (VR) to increase physical and psychological fidelity in highly resembled scenarios for the people. On one hand, VR gives immeasurable value to people when they are enabled to navigate different circumstances (physical fidelity) before considering the use of green burial. On the other hand, VR enables the people to engage in different mental processes (psychological fidelity) replicated from an array of cognitive reaction and sentiments with the choice of green burial. In order to optimize the configuration of the VR settings, we will conduct a face-to-face, semi-structured and in-depth interview with different practitioners. In the study, we explore: (1) To what extent the enhancement of physical fidelity of innovative technologies debunk public's misconception of green burial? (2) To what extent the enhancement of psychological fidelity of innovative technologies debunk public's misconception of green burial? (3) To what extent the simulated experience derived from innovation technologies change the public acceptance of green burial?
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal for international business (IB) activities, leaving them pondering their next steps. The decreasing effectiveness of current vaccines to protect individuals against new variants have created uncertainty on how to respond to the new waves of the COVID-19 infection. This study aims to empirically assesses how IBs perceive the unfolding challenges in the supply chain due to the pandemic and the solutions.
Design/methodology/approach The survey data is obtained from 166 logistics professionals in Hong Kong and India.
Findings The results reveal that returns on investment, logistics, delays and imports are the most affected areas. The most often recommended solutions for supply chain management (SCM) include using local manufacturing capabilities, analytics and automation, offering better customer service, providing more effective transportation means, ensuring diligence around optimization and focusing on sustainability.
Originality/value The findings of this study help to improve supply chain operations. This study also provides recommendations for changes to SCM in response to the new normal.
In: Lau , Y Y , KC , T , K Y Ng , A , X , F , J , Z & JJ , F 2018 , ' Effects of the 'Belt and Road' initiative on the wine import logistics of China ' , Maritime Policy and Management , vol. 45 , no. 3 , pp. 403-417 . https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2017.1405291
China's Belt and Road (BR) initiative is expected to facilitate international trade between the countries involved. In this study, we review the special requirements of wine logistics and the market growth potential of wine consumption in China. A model minimizing generalized logistical costs is developed and applied to wine imports in China, so that the best candidate cities in which to locate transport gateways and distribution centers can be identified. Our analysis suggests that the most preferred gateways are Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, which all have similar delivery costs. In comparison, Beijing and Chongqing have much higher delivery costs, mainly because they do not have good access to marine transport and/or efficient domestic distribution networks. For long-distance intercontinental transport of large volumes of wine, marine shipping remains the only viable delivery mode. However, wine distribution within China extensively uses air, road, and water transport. Therefore, cities with excellent multi-modal transport services are better positioned to become wine logistics gateways. Our study also highlights the importance of value-added services and good government support, which are important factors that influence distribution costs and quality.
