The relationship between antecedents of reverse logistics implementation and economic performance in retail: empirical study for the electronic sector

Abstract

This research develops a conceptual model to elucidate the relationship between antecedents of reverse logistics implementation and economic performance. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with qualitative research exploring antecedents and quantitative analysis using 405 responses from Vietnamese electronic retail enterprises to test hypotheses. The findings identified institutional pressure, resource commitment, IT capability, and corporate reputation as antecedents of reverse logistics implementation, exerting direct and/or indirect effects on economic performance. PLS-SEM analysis generated research results consistent with the previously established theoretical conceptual model, and IPMA highlighted institutional pressure and resource commitment as impactful factors despite their low average scores. Notably, resource commitment plays a moderating role in dampening the positive relationship between institutional pressure and reverse logistics implementation. This study provides deeper insights into reverse logistics theory, supporting retail decision-making to enhance economic performance. However, variations in study scope may lead to differences in outcomes, presenting a significant challenge.