A Case Study of a Thai-Lao Trucking Logistic Business from a Human Resource Devolopment Perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT            The purpose of this research was to describe the trucking logistics business process of a Thai-Laos company from an HRD perspective. A qualitative research approach was applied to this study. Document review and in-depth interviews were the research methods which were used in the process of data collection and this was supplemented by two focus group interviews. There were 24 participants whose interviews took place in both Thailand and Laos. Based on a manual coding into categories, the findings were presented in 8 main categories. The implications were drawn from the findings of the study. The concept of logistics is ‘the right item in the right quantity at the right time at the right place at the lowest cost’ (Christopher, 2005 p.143). As a result, the organizations may need to focus on HRD (i.e., the functions of human resource planning, organization/job design, selection and staffing, performance management systems, training and development, career development, and organization development) in order to not only improve their performance, but also to gain competitive advantage over their competitors. The findings of this study indicated that culture is the most important external component influencing this trucking logistics business across the border. Even though Thai and Laos are like brother-sister lands, this study found that they each have very unique cultures. The researcher believes that the cultural issue needs to be studied further in order to provide useful information to guide successful logistics businesses and policy implementation.