Korea Trade Review (무역학회지)

Korea Trade Research Association (한국무역학회)
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A Study on The Workforce Agility and Operational Performance of Distribution Center - Focused on Busan New Port Distripark -

인력의 민첩성과 물류센터의 운영성과에 관한 연구 - 부산 신항 항만배후단지를 중심으로 -

  • Cho, Yang-Il (Graduate School of International Studies, Pusan national University) ;
  • Kim, Seog-Soo (Graduate School of International Studies, Pusan national University)
  • 조양일 (부산대학교 국제전문대학원) ;
  • 김석수 (부산대학교 국제전문대학원)
  • Received : 2019.06.09
  • Accepted : 2019.06.28
  • Published : 2019.06.30
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Abstract

This research examined the mediation effect of Workforce Agility (WA) on the relationship between environmental uncertainty and operational performance. We manipulated the control variables that are known to be affected by employment flexibility. Employment flexibility is caused by idiosyncratic characteristics of Korean port system. The analysis was tested by Baron & Kenny's method. The result indicates that each path of the proposed model is significant. Furthermore, the mediation effect was checked with the Sobel Test. The research revealed that environment uncertainty poses an indirect effect on operational performance. Both supply/demand uncertainty and technological uncertainty affected operational performance through the mediation effect of WA. Most of the distribution centers located in Busan Newport Distripark are operated in a bimodal labor (human resource) system which includes both permanent employees (workers) and temporary employees (workers). This empirical research provides theoretical and managerial implications by suggesting ways to increase efficiency in distribution center operation through WA enhancement, and to improve the unloading labor system.

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