Catálogo de Investigaciones 2017-2018

CATÁLOGO DE INVESTIGACIONES | AÑO ACADÉMICO 2017-2018 21 Logistics and Financial Performance of SMEs in the South Region of Puerto Rico Logistics performance is an essential aspect for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). There have been mixed findings about the relation between logistics and financial performance of SMEs. This is why the purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between logistics performance and financial performance in the SMEs of the South Region of Puerto Rico. In order to accomplish said purpose, the research objectives are to determine the logistics costs, asses the operational metrics (time-based logistics), examine the service level (logistics service quality), and measure the basic financial performance of SMEs of the South Region of Puerto Rico. The study helps to present what business owners and/ or managers see in their day to day, to a theoretical point of view, and “opens a window” into the world of logistics and finance for the SMEs of Puerto Rico. The study uses a descriptive transactional non-experimental research design with an exploratory and correlational focus. The population identified for the study is the registration of companies of the Chamber of Commerce of the South of Puerto Rico (CCSPR) list of bonafide members. A total of seventy (70) questionnaires were collected out of one hundred and sixty-five (165) questionnaires (representative sample). The simple probabilistic sample was composed mostly of microenterprises based either on annual gross revenue or on number of employees and the predominant industry was the retail trade industry. SMEs of the South Region of Puerto Rico have administrative expense as their predominant logistics cost, and perform very well on a service level. On the other hand, they have a below average profitability. While financial performance did not relate with the logistics performance as a hole, there were relations between the some aspects of logistics performance and financial performance. gustavo j. rivera lizasoaín maestría en administración de empresas con especialidad en finanzas mentor: dr. edgar j. maíz vázquez logistics performance financial performance smes