Transforming business practices in the Zimbabwean haulage transport business sector in order to gain sustained competitiveness

Abstract

More companies in the haulage transport sector are finding themselves entangled in the vicious circle of stagnation and failures as a result of religiously adhering to the traditional business practices. At the same time they get pseudo comfort in the speculation of an abrupt economic revival that suits their prevailing business models and practices. Since there is not much literature on the Zimbabwean environment, specifically to the haulage business, empirical research and academic scrutiny is necessary in this area. Against this background, the research embarked on studying the transformation practices that need to be adopted so as to ensure survival and competitiveness in the prevailing environment. The major premise is that business practice transformations such as cost management, agility, best fleet management practices and innovation are critical for the Haulage Transport Businesses to attain sustained competitiveness in the prevailing Zimbabwean economic environment. In order to adequately answer the research questions, the researcher adopted the qualitative research methodology an in depth interview as a research strategy.

The main research objective was to analyse relevant business practices that have to be adapted for sustainable competitiveness of the Zimbabwean haulage transport business sector. The research findings revealed that though the Zimbabwean economic environment is not conducive for Zimbabwean haulers, some transformations in business practices can ensure competitiveness under such an environment. These practices are agility, cost management, best FM practices, innovation and collaborations that can help Zimbabwean haulers gain sustained competitiveness in an environment characterized by customs hurdles, pro-nationalistic laws and bad state of roads that are being rehabilitated. This led to the main conclusion that even though the operating environment is not ideal for competitiveness of the Zimbabwean haulage businesses, those that are able to transform their business practices are the ones who can attain sustained competitiveness in the current Zimbabwean economic environment. Furthermore, policy and managerial recommendations were that even though haulage firms can lobby and hope for an operational environment that has no customs hurdles, bad roads and balanced pro-nationalization laws, they have to transform their businesses through agility, cost management, best FM practices, innovations and collaborations in order to gain sustained competitiveness.