Article Gold Open Access 2024

Exploring Factors Influencing Student Performance and Educational Strategies in Logistics Management Contests: An ISM Study

Systems
Journal · Vol. 12 · Issue 2 · Art. 49
Abstract

Nowadays, the importance of logistics management has been increasingly realized in industry and society. However, current educational approaches in logistics management seem unable to effectively equip students with the necessary skills to cope with practical issues after graduation. Recently, contest-based education has attracted logistics management educators’ attention, but how it can be effectively utilized in this discipline is largely unclear. To fill this gap, this study followed a system approach and analyzed the factors influencing student performance in logistics management contests in China using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and Matrice d’ Impacts Croisés-Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (MICMAC). The results suggest that the driving forces for improving student performance in contests are the instructors’ encouragement and their previous experience in instructing contests. Also, the contestants’ previous experience in academic contests, team leadership, and effectiveness of communication between instructors and contestants are critical influencing factors. Based on the results, the educational strategies for effective utilization of contest-based education in logistics management are discussed. This study contributes to the existing literature by using a system modeling approach to clarify the mechanisms of contest-based education adoption in logistics management as well as informing university teachers and higher education institutes about strategies to improve their education quality. © 2024 by the authors.

Keywords

Author Keywords

MICMAC Education reform contest-based education ISM logistics management

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Management Department, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Funding & Acknowledgements
Grant: GYCS2022-YB003
This research was funded by the Chinese Society of Logistics, Teaching Steering Committee for Logistics Management and Engineering Specialties of Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education, and Teaching Steering Committee of National Logistics Vocational Education (JZW2023069), Philosophy and Social Science Research Fund of the Chengdu University of Technology (ZDJS202203), Chengdu Philosophy and Social Research Base-Chengdu Park Urban Demonstration Area Construction Research Center (GYCS2022-YB003), and Chengdu University of Technology Yibin campus major construction education reform project (2023-6).
Grant: 2023-6
This research was funded by the Chinese Society of Logistics, Teaching Steering Committee for Logistics Management and Engineering Specialties of Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education, and Teaching Steering Committee of National Logistics Vocational Education (JZW2023069), Philosophy and Social Science Research Fund of the Chengdu University of Technology (ZDJS202203), Chengdu Philosophy and Social Research Base-Chengdu Park Urban Demonstration Area Construction Research Center (GYCS2022-YB003), and Chengdu University of Technology Yibin campus major construction education reform project (2023-6).
Grant: ZDJS202203
This research was funded by the Chinese Society of Logistics, Teaching Steering Committee for Logistics Management and Engineering Specialties of Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education, and Teaching Steering Committee of National Logistics Vocational Education (JZW2023069), Philosophy and Social Science Research Fund of the Chengdu University of Technology (ZDJS202203), Chengdu Philosophy and Social Research Base-Chengdu Park Urban Demonstration Area Construction Research Center (GYCS2022-YB003), and Chengdu University of Technology Yibin campus major construction education reform project (2023-6).
Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, MOE
Grant: JZW2023069
This research was funded by the Chinese Society of Logistics, Teaching Steering Committee for Logistics Management and Engineering Specialties of Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education, and Teaching Steering Committee of National Logistics Vocational Education (JZW2023069), Philosophy and Social Science Research Fund of the Chengdu University of Technology (ZDJS202203), Chengdu Philosophy and Social Research Base-Chengdu Park Urban Demonstration Area Construction Research Center (GYCS2022-YB003), and Chengdu University of Technology Yibin campus major construction education reform project (2023-6).
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