A Framework on the Use of Agile Methods in Logistics Startups

Malena Zielske, Tobias Held and Athanasios Kourouklis
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Malena Zielske: Faculty of Business and Enterprise, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK
Tobias Held: Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 20099 Hamburg, Germany
Athanasios Kourouklis: Faculty of Business and Enterprise, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK

Logistics, 2022, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Background: The logistics industry has seen the emergence of many startups in recent years. Many of these logistics startups use new technologies to develop disruptive products, services or platforms that are based on software. This paper presents the results of a Delphi study and a survey that were consolidated in a framework. The purpose is to understand the benefits that logistics startups derive from using agile methods, the difficulties they face in using these methods and the evolution of logistics startups in terms of using agile methods. Methods: A Delphi study with 29 experts and a global survey with 95 participants was conducted to look at the implementation of agile methods. The largest group of participants were members of (top) management, agile coaches and team leaders. Results: The framework consolidates gathered data to demonstrate how logistics startups apply agile methods and practices based on the results of the Delphi study and the survey, and how the usage of agile methods changes over the age of logistics startups. The results indicate that younger logistics startups use agile methods predominantly to design product features and maximise customer value, whereas logistics startups older than five years focus more on the optimisation of internal processes. Conclusions: The value of the present study lies in its contribution to the hitherto hardly examined research field of agility in logistics startups and the notable views of the experienced participants.

Keywords: agile methods; logistics; startups; framework; survey; Delphi study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L8 L80 L81 L86 L87 L9 L90 L91 L92 L93 L98 L99 M1 M10 M11 M16 M19 R4 R40 R41 R49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:6:y:2022:i:1:p:19-:d:756892

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