Logistics Service Provider-Client Relationship: Comparing U.S.A and Brazil

The Authors compare the organization structure and market-based capabilities of American and Brazilian Logistics Service Providers in their respective countries. Using the resource based view approach, the authors propose that an LSP’s organization structure influences its service capabilities, which in turn will influence satisfaction and performance. The results indicate that the individual models hold true in their respective countries. Autonomy enhanced LSP’s capabilities in the areas of information sharing, logistics service, and customer service in both models. Formalization improved logistics and customer services in the Brazilian case, but only logistics services in the U.S. case. Unlike the U.S. model, service capabilities did not affect satisfaction for the Brazilian case; satisfaction did not contribute to performance for Brazilians. Paths of the two models are compared as part of the descriptive approach for the study and managerial insights provided.