Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In section 1 the introduction - state clearly what is the aim of your work and the main objectives or research questions that you will seek to answer. Revisit these in the conclusion and state how they were met.

Please add relevant references in section 2. This part finishes abruptly with figure 1.

Please explain figure 1 - is this your idea or someone else's? and where exactly do you discuss it? what is figure 1 telling us and how is it linked to your findings and final contributions?

You identify two main findings in your conclusions. However, how are these linked to the literature? Generally your paper would be benefited if you had a discussion section where you integrate the findings with the literature and show how your paper is contributing to theory and practice.

What are the practical implications of your work? What are the limitations? What are any future directions for research?

Comments on the Quality of English Language

A final proofreading will help. But the paper is generally well written.

Author Response

Response 1：The introduction of the research content of the introduction is improved, and the logical thought of "game behavior analysis - model construction - simulation analysis" is perfected. The conclusion part mainly focuses on the service innovation strategy of logistics providers, focuses on the impact of parameter changes on the selection of this strategy by logistics providers and the strategic behavior of other game players, and puts forward the impact of different parameters on the selection behavior of game players, so as to propose the necessity of cross-border e-commerce logistics players to build alliances and service improvement strategies from different perspectives. Finally, the conclusion is optimized and condensed.

Response 2：The relevant references in Section 2 are supplemented, and the theoretical background of Figure 1 is explained.

Response 3：Figure 1 shows the operation system of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance under disruption risk, which is proposed based on the game behavior analysis of alliance players considering supply chain disruption risk. It mainly considers the comparison of two situations, namely normal situation and risk situation, to analyze the specific responsibilities and roles of different alliance players when facing risks. The production of this figure is based on the reference of relevant literature, and the original literature is enriched and optimized (the original is the cross-border logistics service model based on information coordination). In addition, the figure also provides the necessity for logistics service providers to carry out service innovation strategy, and provides a theoretical reference for the optimization decision of the following paper.

Response 4：These two findings are based on the conclusions obtained from the simulation analysis of the tripartite evolutionary game model of the main players of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliances. They mainly focus on the influence of different tripartite parameter Settings on the tripartite strategy selection of logistics service providers, and the analysis results of influencing factors obtained according to different influence degrees. This result will measure the main influencing factors of the establishment of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance under the risk of supply chain disruption, so as to clarify the focus direction of each subject, so as to establish a more comprehensive and effective cross-border e-commerce logistics tripartite alliance system, which mainly plays a role in clarifying the influencing factors and strategic support.

Response 5：The research work in this paper will help to clarify the main influencing factors for the establishment of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance under supply chain risks, and provide thinking and reference for the construction of a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance system. In the future, the alliance development of cross-border e-commerce will become a theme, and the research conclusions of this paper also provide support for the necessity of alliance development. In terms of limitations, this study also has certain limitations, such as government factors, consumers and other subject factors cannot be fully considered. In addition, different subject psychological factors are also important aspects of game model measurement, and there are still insufficient studies in this paper. The future direction is mainly to focus on the alliance construction of cross-border e-commerce, consider adding multi-party themes (not limited to the three parties), and further analyze the effects of different influencing factors on the entire system, analyze the main development mechanism of the entire system operation, and provide reference development suggestions for the alliance construction from a practical dimension. Will be the beneficial application practice of this thesis direction.

 

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Evolutionary game models are worth considering when investigating a system with mechanisms that changes behavior over time and agents have strategic interactions, since the outcome for each agent depends on others' behavior as well as her own. This application meets that requirements.

It is a subject presented with a well-applied methodology and execution, with a thorough mathematical background behind it.

Presumably, the double negative sign (--) and the repetition of <0 in rows 333 and 350, respectively,  are only minor typos.

Although the mathematical background is far more pronounced than the usability of the applied knowledge requires, the balance and the final picture are acceptable. Even though the authors acknowledge in the chapter on conclusions that there are a number of influencing factors that shape these relationships, they are far from being able to incorporate them into the model.

It is recommended that authors review the manuscript and use the terms alliance, cooperation, party, relationship, etc. consistently, as they imply different levels of relationships between two parties. Ensure that there is no confusion between the use of supply chain management concepts and that ones of game theory.

Author Response

Response 1：It was observed that a problem was found in the editing of lines 0 and 333, and the same problem was found in line 392, which was corrected. At the same time, the formulas and symbols in the text are re-screened, and the full text is revised by using a more suitable mode for viewing.

Response 2：Yes, only a part of the influencing factors were considered in the second part of the impact analysis. In the study of the three-party game model, all the influencing factors in Figure 1 were not comprehensively considered. This is also the limitation of this paper and the important direction of subsequent research.

Response 3：The key terms of the full text have been revised to avoid conflicts between different terms for the reading of the paper, so as to ensure the rigor of the paper.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors In the created models there is no residual variable that measures random factors that are not included in the model. The simulations are performed based on some parameter values without presenting their significance.    

 

Author Response

Response 1：The parameter Settings in this paper are set in the communication process of cross-border logistics practitioners and system simulation experts, and refer to the actual operation process. At the same time, the parameter Settings obtained by constant consultation and verification have good universality, and can effectively cover the game decision-making process of cross-border e-commerce logistics subject under the risk of supply chain disruption. The paper does not introduce random factors such as residual variables, but it seems that the application scenarios of this random factor are rarely seen in other literatures related to game models, such as the needs of subsequent paper research, which will be the focus of further improvement in this paper.

Response 2：In addition, the references, research design, research methods, research conclusions and other issues raised in your Open Review have been improved accordingly. See the revised literature for details.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper contributes to understand an important issue in logistics. The methodological perspective is adequate as it allows getting interesting conclusions. However, the discussion of research results and mostly the conclusions could be improved to get all the contributions that might be achieved in this paper. Finally, why this case is important to understand this issue from a general perspective?

Author Response

Response 1：In response to your suggestions, the conclusion of the paper has been modified and condensed to put forward a conclusion that is more practical for the establishment of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance system in the application process. This paper draws on a typical application scenario of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance under the risk of supply chain disruption. The model construction follows the scientific construction principle of game model, and the selection of parameters refers to the suggestions of professionals and simulation experts. On the whole, the logical thinking and simulation process of the model are considered effective. It is considered that it basically conforms to the general application scenario of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance, so it can effectively sort out the different main influencing factors under the main body of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance, and thus the conclusion can provide reference and reference for the construction of cross-border e-commerce logistics alliance.

Response 2：In addition, a series of issues raised in your Open Review have been improved accordingly. See the revised literature for details.

Reviewer 5 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article addresses an interesting topic that the authors presented engagingly. The text meets the requirements of scientific works. It has a proper structure and a logical arrangement of content. The approach adopted by the authors does not raise any concerns. I only suggest clearly stating the objective in the abstract and the introduction. However, I wonder whether the article aligns with the journal's profile.

Author Response

Response1：In response to your suggestions, the abstract and introduction have been revised accordingly to highlight the research objectives and focus of this paper; sustainability magazine mainly focuses on environmental science and green and sustainable development technologies, and an important embodiment of the lean development of the industry is the establishment of alliances to form integrated development, which will be an important basis for enterprises to obtain long-term benefits, especially in the context of cross-border e-commerce logistics facing various external risks and disorderly development. This will provide theoretical and application reference for the sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce. In addition, after reviewing the literature, The magazine also published Financial and Logistical Service Strategy of Third-Party Logistics Enterprises in Cross-Border E-Commerce Environment (2023), Factors and Formation Path of Cross Border E-Commerce Logistics Mode Selection (2023) and a series of related literatures, It shows that the subject has also invested a lot of attention, so it can be considered that the topic is in line with the introduction of the journal.

Response 2：In addition, for some problems in the format and expression of the text, especially the expression of some professional terms is not standardized enough, this paper has also made corresponding improvements.