Just as a rolling stone gathers no moss, a strategic plan that’s actually used will gather no dust. Too often, companies devote time and energy to developing strategic plans, only to never look at them again once they have been printed out. This article explains the critical importance of actually using and implementing your company’s strategic plan, and offers practical tips for avoiding…
Abstract This article presents the findings of a comprehensive, exploratory survey concerning transportation quality improvement programs. Various quality improvement program dimensions were compared among two groups of respondents: those who experienced market share increases or cost decreases associated with the quality programs, and those who did not. The survey examined firms' general fo…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine moves towards cross border trade union mergers. Design/methodology/approach – This editorial outlines the reasons why trade unions see the need to act outside their nation state boundaries. Findings – In the globalised economy if trade unions are to defend and advance the living standards of their members they cannot confine…
ntroduction The world’s most popular country, China, implemented the open door policy in 1979. Since then China has been gradually opening up her economy to attract foreign investments. Recently, China’s World Trade Organization (WTO) entry has boosted its economic growth and advanced its legal and governmental reforms. Bilateral trade between China and Singapore has flourished since the e…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how the knowledge breadth and depth and the balance of the two affect various dimensions of the innovation performance under the consideration of the organizational slack as a moderating factor of the analysis framework. Design/methodology/approach – This study constructs and verifies a research model of knowledge breadth and dept…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to highlight a key strategic initiative within the former ADC Company (now part of TE Connectivity) called “Lean Pull Replenishment”, designed and implemented to achieve Six Sigma customer service excellence. This case study would also help facilitate problem-based learning pedagogy. Design/methodology/approach – The study showcases impl…
Abstract Purpose – Interest in investigating key supplier relationships from both academic and corporate spheres has increased in recent years. However, it is difficult to develop a sustainable and effective model for evaluating key supplier relationships because the information available in the practical environment is often uncertain and asymmetric. The purpose of this paper is to identif…
Abstract Iran’s influence on a number of cultural, political, and economic areas including religion and philosophy, literature, science and education, as well as statecraft is surveyed. The chapter also discusses how successive Iranian empires contributed to the growth of world trade and commerce. It is shown that Iran has had a great impact on the world throughout its long history and that …
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the interaction between the economic and political imperatives of new monetarism. The breakdown of the global derivatives markets, which came into the spotlight during the 2008/2009 global debt crisis, brought up the issue of trust. The matter at hand is the loss of trust in investors’ ability to make informed decisions, but trust …
Peters (1987, p.11) wrote that currency-exchange rate transactions totalled eighty trillion dollars a year of which four trillion was all that was required to finance trade in goods and services. The remainder was/is used for currency speculation thus generating the title “casino society”. Peters (1987) stated that we do not know from day to day the price of money, whether protection or de…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to study the development and implementation of metadata schemes in Swedish governmental agencies, in order to gain a better understanding of recordkeeping practices in contemporary organisations and of the use of metadata and practical implementation of metadata schemes. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on two case studies. Th…
Abstract This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents (the medieval guild) of modern day industrial clustering. The paper challenges the notion that work of Alfred Marshall provides the intellectual underpinning of cluster thinking. Design/methodology/approach – The source material uses archival research on medieval guilds and historical texts. In tracing the developm…
The objective of this study is to examine the container development strategies in the port of Taichung from the viewpoints of carriers, port authorities and shipping academics. The six most important strategic attributes from the all respondents perceptions are Enhancing the services of direct shipping with Mainland China, simplified customs procedures, simplified administrative procedures, de…
The liner shipping industry has experienced fundamental changes in recent years due to globalization, deregulation, horizontal/vertical integration, (increased) cooperation, rationalization, developments in information technology, consolidation and increased concentration. These developments may affect competition. As in other industries, competition in the (containerized) liner shipping indust…
Abstract The objective of this study is to examine the container development strategies in the port of Taichung from the viewpoints of carriers, port authorities and shipping academics. The six most important strategic attributes from the all respondents perceptions are Enhancing the services of direct shipping with Mainland China, simplified customs procedures, simplified administrative proce…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine an organization’s operational alignment in the process of alliance formation. Design/methodology/approach – A literature study was conducted on the strategic importance of assessing and aligning organizations’ operations for alliancing. Furthermore, an instrumental case study was conducted to provide insight in the degree of op…
AbstractPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to reinforce the experiential paradigm from which academics and practitioners currently explain consumer decision making in touristic activities. More specifically, this research brings new insights for understanding consumption experience. The aim is to establish relationships between Experience, Satisfaction, Destination Attachment, as well as …
Purpose This case study maps the perceived collaboration between public, private, and volunteer organizations during maritime crisis work, with a substantive focus on communication, information flow, and distribution of activities. The exercise studied was held in the far north in Norway. It was estimated to be Europe’s most extensive exercise in 2016. Design The data were collected through …
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend knowledge on service quality and how it is defined and thus, managed, in the context of maritime transport by proposing and testing a new conceptual model of service quality. Design/methodology/approach – The study used a sample of 197 shipping companies, port operators and freight forwarders/logistics service providers, employing t…
Abstract Purpose – In the context of organizational aesthetics, “built environments” remain under-explored. The purpose of this paper is to enter the maritime world of ship architectures to navigate sensory-aesthetic knowledge of a sailor’s place-based memories. Design/methodology/approach – Challenges have been issued to explore the potential for artistic-sensual methodologies to b…
Abstract Purpose –The purpose of this study is to evaluate empirically the impact of intrafirm resources, interfirm relationships, and logistics service capabilities on logistics performance in the container logistics context. Design/methodology/approach –Factor analysis was employed to identify the key intrafirm resources (i.e. tangible assets and intangible assets), interfirm relation…
The New York City Department of Sanitation operates the world's largest refuse marine transport system. Waste trucks unload their cargo at land-based transfer stations where refuse is placed in barges and then towed by tugboats to the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island. In the early 1980s, the city commissioned the development of a computer-based model for use in fleet sizing and opera…
Abstract Purpose – As fire doors are passive fire protection parts, the doors have to be certified through standard fire tests. It is usual practice to perform the standard fire testing on the components which require the fire certification. However, some gas turbine enclosure doors are too large to test at the test facility and hence the fire resistance test is practically not possible. The…
Therefore, it was time for the European Union to act and to develop a new concept of safety culture. A parallel can be drawn between the attitude of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the attitude of the European Union. The IMO is well known for promoting and improving safety and also in being reactive to maritime disasters. Now we discover a new philosophy of “anticipating a…
Abstract Purpose – The aim of this study is to determine the nature and extent of the threat of global maritime piracy. The cost of global piracy has been estimated at USD15-25 billion, reaching an all-time high in 2011, remaining an ongoing threat to world trade and contributing to high commodity costs.
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to forecast inbound and outbound container throughput for Bangkok Port to 2041 and uses the results to inform the future planning and management of the port’s container terminal. Design/methodology/approach – The data used cover a period of 16 years (192 months of observations). Data sources include the Bank of Thailand and the Energy Policy and Plannin…
Abstract Purpose – The main goal of this research is to examine the effect of knowledge management capabilities on supply chain management practices and organizational performance in firms, in addition to examining the effect of supply chain management on organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach – To demonstrate the effect of knowledge management capabilities on supply chain…
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to report an explicit taxonomy of maritime operations (MO) to guide Harbour Masters (HM)s of smaller ports in planning more sustainable operations. Design/methodology/approach – This research presents strategies for building theory to promote more sustainable port management in a two-stage research design. Starting from a base taxonomy in research stag…
Abstract Purpose – Supply chain resilience (SCR) is essential to the success of firms. However, very few studies have focused on the relationships between different types of integration, SCR and service performance from the perspective of third-party logistics providers (3PLs). The purpose of this paper is to develop and assesses a conceptual model for these relationships. Design/methodolog…
Abstract Purpose – The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) embodies standards of existing international maritime labour conventions and recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international labour conventions. The aim of the convention is to address the employment standards of seafarers in the areas of fair wages, contractual terms, working and living condit…
Abstract Purpose – In 2011, the new Arbitration Ordinance took effect in Hong Kong. This paper aims to discuss the new features on maritime arbitration. Design/methodology/approach – The relevant provisions of the Arbitration Ordinance 2011 and the legal cases are examined. Findings – Hong Kong is a first class maritime arbitration centre in the Asia Pacific Region. Originality/value –…
Abstract The environmental consequences of international trade and transport have gained importance as a result of the current climate debate. Products are increasingly being produced in one part of the world, transported to another country and then redistributed to their final country of consumption. Since more than 80% of world trade tonnage measured in metric tons is carried by seagoing ve…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to empirically evaluate the impacts of institutional pressures on the use of alternative maritime power (AMP) and which in turn enhance environmental performance in the maritime shipping context. Design/methodology/approach – Factor analysis was used to identify the key coercive pressure, normative pressure, mimetic pressure, AMP practice and…
Abstract Purpose – There is a great deal of concern among the Egyptian economy that small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) potentials are not fully used although they dominate it and contribute to its success. The question is what challenges are preventing those SMEs from performing efficiently. This research aims to focus on examining the issues regarding the supply chain of Egypt…
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to explore the coordination mechanism of cost sharing for green food production and marketing between a food producer and a supplier who both contribute to sales of green food. Design/methodology/approach – This paper first develops demand functions for both a food supplier and a producer, considering their influence on food green degree and associated c…
The major problems with this work centre upon the author's failure to provide it with a coherent conceptual framework, and a concomitant lack of integration between the component parts of the book. The author states his objectives, but the questions posed remain largely unanswered in what is essentially a series of essays about sone aspects of planning in some port cities of early modern Europe…
Abstract This chapter presents a framework which is accessible to port authorities to assess the potential environmental impact of maritime operations. Pursuant on globalisation, increased numbers of ship movements have generated more frequent routine maritime operations in ports but few formal approaches exist for assessing their environmental impact, which potentially could be significant. I…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact level of parameters affecting wing design at low speeds via using Taguchi method. Design/methodology/approach – Using brain storming approach airfoil shape, wing angle of attack and Reynolds number are determined as important wing design parameters. Most important parameters over these parameters are determined using T…
THERE ARE NO alongside wharves for ocean-going vessels at Aden, so all cargo handling is done by tugs, lighters, launches and similar vessels. The conditions in which these craft work are quite severe and include shell encrustation, marine plant growth, and turbulent sea-water. Some craft operate both inshore and some miles out where they meet quite heavy seas. Maintenance work and costs are he…
Purpose – The study sought to provide statistical and empirical evidence on the motivations, income determinants and livelihood vulnerabilities of female teenage head porters. The paper draws from the motivational theory and the livelihood vulnerability approach to assess the motivations, livelihood vulnerabilities and income determinants of female teenage head porters in Kasoa, Ghana. Design…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on progress and lessons in improving the social work system in England in the interests of children and families. Design/methodology/approach – Based on an interview with the author by Michael Little (one of the Guest Editors of this edition). Findings – Social work is best placed to lead the child protection system given its ab…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of marketing communications of British shipping lines in the period from c.1840 to c.1970 to establish the extent to which these outputs reflect extant scholarship which points to the lack of innovation as a key reason for the demise of these lines. Design/methodology/approach – The research is built on a survey of >450 …
With increasing attention to sustainability in ports operations, international ports need to improve their competitive position within the bounds of environmental regulations whilst accommodating stakeholder expectations. To explore the specific route of sustainability practices in port operations, this study analyzes the role of sustainability practice as a moderator on the relationships betwe…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to find out the future development of the Panama Canal after opening of the new waterway (third set of locks project), in terms of the change of cargo throughput, further deployment of fleets by the shipping companies and competition for the canal.
Abstract Purpose – The occurrence and unpredictability of speculative bubbles on financial markets, and their accompanying crashes, have confounded economists and economic historians worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to diagnose and detect the bursting of shipping bubbles ex ante, and to qualify the patterns of shipping price dynamics and the bubble mechanics, so that appropriate coun…
Abstract Purpose – Cruise traffic has dynamically advanced worldwide over the past two decades. This maritime business and tourism typology is strongly concentrated in several links that comprise the cruise product. With regard to destination regions, the concentration occurs both in the few worldwide destination regions and in the specific ports within a given destination region. Moreover,…
Abstract Purpose – Periodic inspection of large tonnage vessels is critical to assess integrity and prevent structural failures that could have catastrophic consequences for people and the environment. Currently, inspection operations are undertaken by human surveyors, often in extreme conditions. This paper aims to present an innovative system for the automatic visual inspection of ship hul…
Abstract Purpose –The purpose of this study is to evaluate empirically the impact of intrafirm resources, interfirm relationships, and logistics service capabilities on logistics performance in the container logistics context. Design/methodology/approach –Factor analysis was employed to identify the key intrafirm resources (i.e. tangible assets and intangible assets), interfirm relationsh…
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to revisit the author’s 2007 “Postcard from Chittagong” to reprise the past decade of activity related to the ship breaking industry of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on content analysis of global and local source documentation. This includes academic works, research reports from non-governmental organizations and gene…