Logistics Management and Organizational Performance of Selected Organizations in Monrovia, Liberia.

ABSTRACT The study 1I’as set to examine the effect of logistics management on organizational performance of selected manufacturing organizations in Monrovia, Liberia. The study objectives included assessing the effect ofpackaging on performance of manufacturing organizations, to establish the effect of warehousing on performance and third objective transportation on performance of the manufacturing organizations in Monrovia, Liberia. The study was based on a descriptive survey in a context ofthree manufacturing organizations of Coca Cola, Rico and Liberia cement coiporations, these provided information for the study, the data was collected both quantitative and qualitative. The focus was on 191 respondents who were employees of the selected mnam(facturing companies. The analysis ofdata took into considerations the descriptive statistics on Mean, standard deviation for levels and the regression analysis for attaining the level and magnitude of the effect of the independent variables on performance. The research findings reveal that the overall logistics management had a positive effect on performance though the e/j~c1 was 1014’. Given that the findings that packaging affects the performance of the lnamffacturing companies in Monrovia by 2.6%. Warehousing affected the pemformance of the manz~’facturing companies in Monrovia by 3.5%. Itfurther implies that the effect is very low and transportation affects the performance ofthe manifacturing companies in Monrovia by 12.9%. It further implies that the effect is very low. The researcher conclude that packaging contributed to performance of manufacturing companies though the effect was insignificant the researcher conclude that packaging is a key logistical function and affect performance to some limited extent. On the second research objective, the researcher established that the level of ii’arehousing the manufacturing organizations was low, issues to do with computerization in 1I’arehousing was found to a limited usage, the researcher also argued warehousing to a small extent affected profitability of the studied manufacturing sector. The third objective that set to evaluate the transportation mechanisms of the mana~facturing organizations reveal transportations inefficiencies were found present the transportation mechanisms also affected the performance however much the effect was very low. The researcher recommends that there is need for enhancing the functions of transportation through computerization and enhancing transportations. There is need for more attention on the packaging of the products as it was found to attract the customers further more warehousing also needed to be enhanced for improving the performance mechanism.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL

DEDICATION

DECLARATION .

iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ABSTRACT ixi

CFIAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1

1 . I Introduction I

1.2 Statement of the Problem 4

1.3 Purpose of the study 5

1 .4 Objectives of the study 5

1 .5 Research Questions 5

1.6 Scope of the study Error! Bookmark not defined.

I .7 Research Hypothesis 5

1 .8 Significance of the study 6

1 .9 Operational definitions ofKey terms 7

CHAPTER TWO 9

LITERATURE REVIEW 9

2.1 Introduction 9

2.2 Conceptual framework 11

2.3 Related Literature 12

2.4 Related Studies on Logistics management and organizational performance 19

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CHAPTER THREE .23

METHODOLOGY 23

3.1 Introduction 23

3.2 Research Population 23

3.3 Sample Size 23

3.4 Data Sources 25

3.5Research Instruments 25

3.6. Validity and Reliability 25

3.7 Data gathering Procedures 27

3.8 Data Analysis 27

3.9 Ethical Considerations 28

CHAPTER FOUR 29

DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS 29

4.1 Introduction 29

4.1.1 Demographic Profile 29

4.2Effect of packaging on organizational performance in selected manufacturing organizations in

Liberia 31

4.2.1 Level of packaging in selected manufacturing organizations in Monorovia Liberia 32

4.2.2 Level of organizational performance in organization in Monrovia 34

4.2.3 Effect of packaging on organizational performance in selected manufacturing organizations

in Liberia 36

4.3 Effect of warehousing on organizational performance in selected manufacturing

organizations in Liberia 38

4.3 Responses on warehousing selected manufacturing organizations in Liberia 38

4.3.2 Effect of warehousing on organizational performance in selected manufacturing

organizations in Liberia 40

4.4 Effect of transportation on organizational performance in selected manufacturing

organizations in Liberia 41

4.4.1 Responses on transportation on organizational performance in Monorovia 42

4.4.2 Effect of transportation on organizational performance in selected manufacturing

organizations in Liberia 44

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CHAPTER FIVE .46

1)ISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 46

5.1 introduction 46

5.2 Conclusions 48

5.3 Recommendations 48

5.4 Areas of further study 50

REFERENCES 51

APPENDICES: Research instruments 56

Appendix i: Questionnaire 56

Appendix ii: Interview Guide 58

Appendix iii: Sample Size for the Given Population Sizes (N) 59