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Persistent Variation: Flexibility, Organization, and Strategy in the Logistics of Importing Automobiles to the United States, 1980–99

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  • Peter V Hall

    (Department of City and Regional Planning, University of California at Berkeley, 228 Wurster Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1850, USA)

Abstract

The author presents case studies that reveal persistent variation in the logistics operations of firms importing new automobiles to the USA from 1980 to 1999. He argues that, in addition to the recognized differences such as national origin, product mix, and production organization, the strategic organization of logistics itself constitutes a basis for persistent variation. Firms operating at a global scale face heightened uncertainties in matching supply and demand and hence have a heightened requirement for flexibility. This is theorized in this paper as the ability to collect and transmit information, both codified and tacit, within and across various spatial scales. However, these informational goals imply very different organizational structures that are in tension. In ideal-type terms, firm organizational structures vary in the degree to which they are localized—referring to the intra-regional collection of information through horizontal relationships between the firm and external actors—or globalized—referring to the interregional transmission of information between portions of the firm. Persistent variation is the most likely outcome as firms constantly seek to reorganize their logistics operations in historically contingent, experimental, and contested ways.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter V Hall, 2004. "Persistent Variation: Flexibility, Organization, and Strategy in the Logistics of Importing Automobiles to the United States, 1980–99," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(3), pages 529-546, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:36:y:2004:i:3:p:529-546
    DOI: 10.1068/a3630
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hall, Peter V., 2002. "The Institution of Infrastructure and the Development of Port-Regions," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt4h57f9db, University of California Transportation Center.
    2. Marie-Claude Belis-Bergouignan & Gerard Bordenave & Yannick Lung, 2000. "Global Strategies in the Automobile Industry," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 41-53.
    3. Michel Freyssenet & Yannick Lung, 2000. "Between Globalisation and Regionalisation: What is the Future of the Motor Industry?," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: John Humphrey & Yveline Lecler & Mario Sergio Salerno (ed.), Global Strategies and Local Realities, chapter 4, pages 72-94, Palgrave Macmillan.
    4. Clive Lawson & Edward Lorenz, 1999. "Collective Learning, Tacit Knowledge and Regional Innovative Capacity," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(4), pages 305-317.
    5. Meric S. Gertler, 2001. "Best practice? Geography, learning and the institutional limits to strong convergence," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 5-26, January.
    6. Andrew Mair, 1994. "Honda’s Global Local Corporation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-37485-0.
    7. Martin Kennly & Richard Florida, 1995. "The Transfer Of Japanese Management Styles In Two Us Transplant Industries: Autos And Electronics," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(6), pages 789-802, November.
    8. Hall, Peter Voss, 2002. "The Institution of Infrastructure and the Development of Port-Regions," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt23d3c7kx, University of California Transportation Center.
    9. Andrew Mair, 1994. "Global Local Corporation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Honda’s Global Local Corporation, chapter 11, pages 301-352, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    1. Peter V. Hall, 2004. "Mutual Specialisation, Seaports And The Geography Of Automobile Imports," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 95(2), pages 135-146, April.
    2. Peter V. Hall, 2004. "“We’d Have to Sink the Ships†: Impact Studies and the 2002 West Coast Port Lockout," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 18(4), pages 354-367, November.
    3. Hidekazu Itoh & David Guerrero, 2020. "Investigating variations in the deep-sea sourcing strategies of car manufacturers: Two case studies of parts consolidation centers in Japan," Post-Print hal-02549412, HAL.

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