Ethical Distribution and Supply Efficiency of Petroleum Products: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This study examined ethical distribution and supply efficiency of petroleum products. It explored the contemporary ethical distribution practices adopted by petroleum marketers in extant literature; identified the current key performance indicators (KPIs) for supply efficiency in the petroleum industry; and explored the position of scholars on the influence of ethical distribution on supply efficiency of petroleum products, among other objectives. To that end, a systematic literature review methodology was adopted. Through a thorough search process supported by a set of stringent inclusion-exclusion criteria, 91 relevant articles were included in this review. The articles were analyzed using in-depth content analysis method augmented with descriptive statistics. Consequently, the major finding of the study revealed that the majority of extant scholarly studies reviewed supported the proposition that ethical distribution practices can have significant influences on supply efficiency of petroleum products in extant literature. It was also found that the contemporary ethical distribution practices adopted by petroleum marketers in extant literature can be grouped into 11 categories, while the current key performance indicators (KPIs) for supply efficiency in the petroleum industry can be grouped into 13 categories, among other findings. On that note, the study recommended the need for a robust regulatory and implementation framework that mandates and ensures that petroleum marketers consistently integrate ethical considerations into their distribution operations in order to improve supply efficiency of petroleum products.