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In its effort towards diversifying its economy and generate new jobs, the logistics industry has been identified as a key contributor to economic diversification. The Logistics Strategy of Oman highlighted that the country has the opportunity to generate about OMR 14 billion over the next two decades from logistics-related activities which would co...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... rate of 7% between 2012 and 2014, faster than the average growth rate in GDP or non-oil GDP (see Fig. 1). The logistics sector in Oman generated 8.81 Billion market revenue and contributed 4.9% to the GDP in 2015 [2]. Compared to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Oman"s logistics market share was around 12% in 2015 (See Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) [3]. Creation of adequate employment opportunities is one of the key objectives of the logistics strategy. However, it was found that there is currently a considerable gap between the education skills required by the logistics industry and those which are available in the market [1], ...
Context 2
... rate of 7% between 2012 and 2014, faster than the average growth rate in GDP or non-oil GDP (see Fig. 1). The logistics sector in Oman generated 8.81 Billion market revenue and contributed 4.9% to the GDP in 2015 [2]. Compared to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Oman"s logistics market share was around 12% in 2015 (See Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) [3]. Creation of adequate employment opportunities is one of the key objectives of the logistics strategy. However, it was found that there is currently a considerable gap between the education skills required by the logistics industry and those which are available in the market [1], ...
Context 3
... rate of 7% between 2012 and 2014, faster than the average growth rate in GDP or non-oil GDP (see Fig. 1). The logistics sector in Oman generated 8.81 Billion market revenue and contributed 4.9% to the GDP in 2015 [2]. Compared to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Oman"s logistics market share was around 12% in 2015 (See Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) [3]. Creation of adequate employment opportunities is one of the key objectives of the logistics strategy. However, it was found that there is currently a considerable gap between the education skills required by the logistics industry and those which are available in the market [1], ...
Citations
... Specifically, while human capital remains indispensable for sustaining long-term regional growth in the logistics industry, there exists a substantial disparity between the educational skills demanded by the logistics sector. This incongruity poses a genuine threat to economic growth and hampers the competitive edge of the logistics industry [52]. Addressing this issue is imperative, as the geographical and economic disparities in China are poised to exacerbate the existing imbalance. ...
The coordinated development of regional logistics and the economy is crucial for regional economic progress and for reducing regional development disparities. This study applies regional coordinated development theory and coupling theory, utilizing the Coupling Coordination Degree Model (CCDM) to analyze data from 31 provinces and cities in China in 2021, with the analysis results serving as the outcome variable. Additionally, we use data from four dimensions: infrastructure investment (II), technological innovation (TI), industrial structure (IS), and human capital (HC), as the conditional variables, conducting a multi-factor configurational analysis using fsQCA. Three paths with high coupling coordination and one path with non-high coupling coordination are identified, and the reasons for each path are analyzed. The results indicate that: 1) there are significant regional disparities in China regarding economic development, logistics development, and the degree of their coupling and coordination, with the eastern regions exhibiting higher levels and the western regions and other remote areas exhibiting lower levels. 2) The three paths with high coupling coordination are: “Infrastructure Investment—Technological Innovation”, “Technological Innovation—Industrial Structure—Human Capital”, and “Infrastructure Investment—Fundamental Innovation—Industrial Structure”. These three types facilitate the well-coordinated progress of regional logistics and the economy. The article concludes by highlighting policy suggestions that underscore the significance of fortifying the bond between the logistics industry and the economy, alongside earnest efforts to enhance regional logistics standards. This will foster a mutually reinforcing and co-developing situation, further promoting coordinated development among regions, achieving high-quality regional development, and reducing the imbalances in logistics and economic development among different regions.
... The supply chain and procedures underwent significant changes due to continuous progress, and technological and industrial revolutions and these changes resulted in a widescale domino effect. The shortage of qualified logistics personnel posed a severe threat to the country's economic progress, creating acute suffering (Benayoune, 2018), particularly for ports, which derived demand facilities (OECD, 2008). ...
Purpose
This paper aimed to assess the service quality of the main seaports in Oman, which were Sohar, Ad Duqm and Salalah. The aim was to come up with ways to enhance the port service quality (PSQ) in Oman so that it could align with the Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy (SOLS) 2040 goals and achieve excellent and efficient operations.
Design/methodology/approach
To evaluate the service quality level of the port operators, this paper used a descriptive research design with Resources, Outcome, Process, Management, Image/reputation and Social (ROPMIS) modelling.
Findings
The findings indicated that the overall PSQ rating was currently between “satisfactory” and “very satisfactory” levels. However, the study also found that by empowering resources, outcomes, processes, management, image and social responsibility aspects, the port operators could provide a “high” quality of service, making their seaport operations more effective and efficient.
Practical implications
The study offers recommendations for improving port services in Oman, including investment in modern seaports, upgrading infrastructure and facilities, ensuring safety and efficiency of cargo operations, meeting and exceeding customer expectations, adopting new technology and automation, hiring policies that attract diverse talents, implementing environmentally friendly practices and improving governance. Overall, this study contributes to the literature and managerial practices in PSQ aspects and its contribution to the SOLS 2040 in Oman.
Originality/value
The originality and novelty of this study lie in its comprehensive assessment of the service quality of Oman's ports and the identification of areas for improvement to achieve outstanding service levels.
... The IR 4.0 can bring to the logistics sector in Oman fresh opportunities to increase its competitive edge. However, local practitioners are faced with the challenge of a lack of commitment towards upgrading their technological capabilities, coupled with an over-reliance on a cheap expatriate workforce (Benayoune, 2018;Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 2019). Finally, the last issue comes from a national-level development plan called the SOLS 2040. ...
... Also, the contribution analyses the connection between key success factors and various performance metrics (e.g., ROI, ROA, etc.). Benayoune [6] and Perham & Tamminga [36] focuses on the development of human capital which becomes critical in achieving the aspirations set out in the logistics strategy and matching the forecasted and planned growth of the logistics industry. According to Bullen and Rockart [9] and Wijn et al. [43], the definition of Key Success Factors provides a guideline to managers for allocating scarce resources and allows organizations to distinguish from competitors, thus building a stable, positive relationship with the market. ...
The homogeneous nature of logistics providers' services, characterized by low margins and price-sensitive customers, has pushed the market towards a commoditization of logistics services in the last decades. For this reason, the efforts towards the definition of innovative success factor for this industrial setting is significant to increase the logistics service marginality. However, current scientific studies related to Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) overlook the identification of operational success factors to increase business competitiveness and profitability, leaving logistics organizations with ambiguity when defining their operational strategies. Hence, this paper aims to identify crucial elements in the logistics sector, specifically in chemical transport and distribution. The approach involves first qualitative research of the main factors that increase the competitiveness of the LSPs' service. The factors are evaluated and ranked by adopting the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology to identify the main elements that could influence the LSPs' competitiveness. Once the ranking has been provided, the paper proposes a framework to properly choose a set of operational strategies for logistics organizations and an industrial application for chemical transport and distribution. The presented case study shows how to apply the methodology to a real-world instance of the logistics sector.
The expansion of the global supply chain has introduced a multitude of challenges, particularly in road freight transportation. These include extended lead times, high operational expenses, and limited end-to-end visibility. Modern technology must be included in the freight industry to streamline operations and maintain competitiveness. The freight transportation industry is poised for a shift driven by the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things delivers real-time tracking, predictive maintenance, and enhanced security which ushers in a new era for the road transportation industry. Adopting the internet of things will guarantee long-term competitive advantage and future success in a road freight sector. A skills gap remains an obstacle to the successful implementation of the Internet of Things. There has been limited research conducted on the effect of the Internet of Things in the Oman road freight industry. The goal of this study was to document the implementation of Internet of Things and its effect on operational effectiveness through perceived useful in Oman road freight industry. This study used a positivist research philosophy associated with quantitative research. Data was gathered from the five biggest companies in the road freight industry in Oman. A pilot test was conducted to assess the reliability of the research instrument used. A convenience sampling technique was administered to collect data from respondents. A total of 203 structured questions were distributed on-line to workers in road freight sector in Oman. A structural equation modelling was used to analyze the quantitative data in the study. Results show that the adoption of IoT in the road freight sector is a continuous trend. Further findings show that the relationship between IoT and operational effectiveness is partially mediated by perceived usefulness. Improved operational effectiveness is the primary impact of IoT on the road freight sector. Managers are informed that smart sensor technologies can be used with the IoT to allow asset visibility and save operational costs. Future research may explore the financial gains attained through the utilization of IoT within Oman road freight industry.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (also known as Industry 4.0) is a global strategy that blends various technologies tools by merging the physical and digital world boundaries. While Oman launched the Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy (SOLS) in 2015, logistics is one of the vision's pillars. Both strategies have resulted in a divergence in business strategy orientations, resulting in a misalignment of the national target. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between SOLS 2040 and Industrial 4.0 strategies incorporating an analytic induction method, which is a systematic way of validating the correlation between both strategies. A systematic analysis revealed a positive correlation between the two visions, owing to the importance of technology in achieving the SOLS 2040 vision. The correlation between SOLS 2040 and Industry 4.0 is an important step toward developing a comprehensive framework for the Oman logistics industry that will benefit all stakeholders.
Robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things are new technologies that are changing the world and mainly logistics companies in increasing competitiveness and effective operation. However, these technologies bring about significant changes in many industries, including the logistics industry. A skilled workforce is vital to the industry's competitiveness. Therefore, insufficient skills are often considered a solid barrier to Industry 4.0 implementation. This paper assesses the requirements of logistics 4.0 Skills from an Omani industrial perspective by providing empirical evidence of Industry 4.0 skills requirement in the logistics industry in Oman. An experimental methodology based on a survey has been implemented to gather valid thorough evidence. The survey was distributed to approvability sample (random sample) of logistics companies in Oman. The findings recommend that critical stakeholders align education output with industry needs and outline policy directions to prepare the domestic workforce for the future in the logistics industry.
In Oman, the logistics & supply chain sector had great attention from the government & considered an essential field for the development plans to boost the national economy. Last few years, it has become necessary to move to other sources that enhance economic diversification instead of the primary oil dependence. The Sultanate of Oman has been succeeded in choosing the logistics & supply chain sector as one of the main pillars of economic diversification within Oman Vision 2040. Nowadays, it becomes one of the popular sectors that play a vital role as a source of income, attract local & foreign investments. However, limited research is available on the effectiveness of logistics & supply chains in Oman. Therefore, this study aims to promote the performance of logistics & supply chain sectors by analyzing the challenges & opportunities, affecting the generate & soaring income sources, financial stability, & boosting the economic Diversification in Oman. This study focused on the challenges & opportunities in the logistics & supply chain management sector in Oman. It provided a theoretical framework to understand the institutes' performance through achieving diversification. A descriptive research design was chosen to be used in this study. The population target of this research is to focus on the logistics & supply chain sector in Oman, especially those related to free zones & industrial areas. A quantitative approach through questionnaire development was utilized. Data collection was distributed randomly to more than 200 respondents among subsidiaries in the free zones & the industrial regions. One hundred fifty completed questionnaires were returned & used in data analysis. The researcher tested the hypotheses related to the relationships proposed in the study model, & all hypotheses were accepted. The findings from this study have provided an academic contribution, an empirical contribution for companies & communities, & contextual & managerial contribution to the literature on logistics & supply chain with boosting the national economy.
The most recent trends in education emphasize the importance of its strong focus on the learner’s job-readiness, a convergence of education with the world of work, and its adaptation to the needs of the learner and the employer. Ascribable to its far-reaching partnership with 21st-century educational thinking, demand-driven education and planning for the future, the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classroom is no exception to this, seeing modifications and adaptations in its search for a deeper understanding of the reliable skill set introduction and development. While debating current global and local issues, changes, and challenges in the broad area of ESP, this paper focuses on Omani tertiary education students’ understanding of in-demand 21st-century skills and their development in the dimensions of these skills. The discussion is anchored in the personal feedback of students enrolled in English for Business course offered by the Centre for Preparatory Studies at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. In terms of future employability, students were asked to rate twenty-three skill areas and how these skill areas were covered in the course in bilingual English and Arabic questionnaire administered online. The results demonstrate students’ understanding of the importance of 21st-century skills for future employability. They also show that effective in-demand skill instruction requires teacher initiative in the enhanced incorporation of learner-centered teaching approaches and more language learning activities and tasks with a focus on interactive and experiential instruction. This involves a synthesis of best practices in integrated language skills with a special focus on speaking, the application of different innovative tools and techniques of teaching, and enhancement of positive attitudes toward aligning skill areas, with an emphasis on idea development, content knowledge, critical and creative thinking.
