Development of Paperless Foreign Trade Performance Measurement Scale the Multitrait-Multimethod Model Proposal

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to propose a scale development method to measure the performance of foreign trade companies in paperless trade operations. First, a qualitative interview method was used to determine the dimensions of the scale. As a result of this study, it was found that paperless trade performance has primary and secondary dimensions. This two level dimensionality lead to multitrait multimethod model (MTMM) in order to determine the construct validity. This paper consists of scale proposal to measure paperless trade performance under the primary dimension (payment, customs, insurance, transport, archiving) from the secondary dimensions perspective (speed, errors, costs, security, predictability, tracking & tracing, reporting). Findings show that a complex nested model is needed to verify the validity of the scale. The theoretical contribution of this research is the development of a method for a scale in paperless trade. The managerial contribution of this research is to provide an instrument for assessing the paperless trade performance of foreign trade companies.

Keywords: Foreign Trade, Multitrait-Multimethod Model, Paperless Trade

JEL Classification: M10, F19