Abstract Purpose – This teaching case seeks to explain the main aspects of Acciona’s sustainability strategy and the process of transformation of the company after the new CEO took office in 2004. It also aims to present some possible difficulties of maintaining such strategies in the new economic and political environment. The purpose of the case is to show how three aspects play a releva…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the process, network, skills and practices of service parts logistics organizations in the Asia Pacific region. Specifically, it attempts to propose a new framework for service parts logistics management based on interview inputs from several leading automotive and aerospace companies. This paper also seeks to identify the trends and …
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the production processes utilized by the Malaysian construction industry (MCI). Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows an earlier work published in this journal in which the authors analyze the global construction industry focusing on the evolution of lean production systems. Findings – The future of construction is …
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…
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 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 – 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…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze maritime logistics connectivity of ports and shipping networks in the East Sea Economic Rim (ESER) to promote international trade in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), considering centrality, primary flow and clustering interaction. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies a complex network model, using…
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to propose a technique based on cognitive assessments to quantify identified operational risks from the perspective of container shipping or logistics system administrators. The results derived from the risk quantification could be used to prioritize risks as well as support the decision-making process in risk prevention and mitigation. Design/methodology/…
Purpose –This study provides a risk assessment of port-centric threats that may have adverse effects on supply chain continuity from the perspectives of port operators and port users, thereby determining the significance of these threats to supply chain disruptions. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on literature review and reported cases, 19 port-centric disruptive events were identi…
Abstract Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the gap between cost-based and time-based revenue recognition schemes in the accounting of ship-owning corporations, and to propose cost-based revenue recognition (as in general accounting practice) in connection with the performance obligations. Design/methodology/approach – For a comparative analysis of time-based (traditional ap…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the optimal conditions of the mixed convection in a ventilated square cavity filled with Cu-water nanofluid utilizing of Taguchi ethod. The paper aims to discuss diverse issues befell for the said model. Design/methodology/approach – The numerical solutions of nonlinear coupled equations are developed by means of Taguchi method. T…
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that constructing magnetic equivalent circuits (MECs) for simulating accelerator magnets is possible by defining a three-port magnetic element for modelling the T-shape field distribution, where the flux leaves the yoke and enters the aperture. Design/methodology/approach – A linear three-port magnetic element is extracted from an analytical fi…
Abstract Purpose – Container shipping is a standardized business-to-business service market where carriers need to stay customer focused to survive. Market segmentation is an ideal solution to develop customized marketing programs for each segment, but container lines need personalized marketing programs for each customer. Hence, the purpose of this study is to develop a segmentation framew…
Purpose – Container shipping is generally considered a global business. This truth may not hold from a single-company perspective. The companies’ physical operation etworks show that container carriers operate differently and follow different paths in their internationalisation development. Additionally, the degree of internationalisation, easured on the basis of sea-oriented operatio…
Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the location of regional and international hub ports in liner shipping by proposing a hierarchical hub location problem. Design/methodology/approach – This paper develops a mixed-integer linear programming model for the authors’ proposed problem. Numerical experiments based on a realistic Asia-Europe-Oceania liner shipping network are carried out t…
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 purpose of this paper is to show impacts of household wastes handling on some physicochemical parameters of surface water, soil, sediments and borehole water samples in Port Harcourt. Waste generated from the households are indiscriminately dumped on roads, stream channels, bush lands and open spaces thus defacing the landscape of the city, flooding and spreading vec…
Abstract Purpose – The increase of containership sizes driven by the need to create greater economies of scale seems to be an endless process. Vessels of more than 21,000 TEU are presently on order. The purpose of this paper is to question whether a positive effect still remains at present mega ship sizes and, even if this was the case, whether such presumably small effect would be outweighe…
Abstract Purpose – Congestion at Ghana’s main seaports is a problem that has received much attention recently. This is as a result of continuous increase in containerized cargo. To increase the capacity of Ghana’ seaport, the Ministry of Transport through the Ghana Shippers Council initiated the Boankra Inland Port Project. The aim of this paper is to assess the feasibility and economic …
Purpose – The increase of containership sizes driven by the need to create greater economies of scale seems to be an endless process. Vessels of more than 21,000 TEU are presently on order. The purpose of this paper is to question whether a positive effect still remains at present mega ship sizes and, even if this was the case, whether such presumably small effect would be outweighed by costl…
Purpose – This paper aims to use an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and combine this with the fuzzytheory to identify key indicators influencing English-medium instruction (EMI) in the shipping ourses of Taiwan’s higher education. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature review and expert interviews, an evaluation model with 4 indicators and 13 sub-indicators was developed. …
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the headlined eco-bulkers ordered in 2012 and 2013 are posing a threat to the less-efficient ships ordered at the end of the boom in 2008 and 2009. Design/methodology/approach – This paper will first investigate the drivers for the interest in such low-emission, low-speed bulker as well as the more general history of bulker desig…
Purpose – The Northern Sea Route (NSR) could become viable in the near future. If this happens, it will radically reduce sailing times and distances on routes from Asia to Northern Europe. However, although much has been written about the feasibility of the NSR, about the issues involved and about the possible opening of the route, the views of key stakeholders from companies who would potent…
Purpose – This study aims to develop an assessment methodology using a Bayesian network (BN) to predict the failure probability of oil tanker shipping firms. Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes a bankruptcy prediction model by applying the hybrid of logistic regression and Bayesian probabilistic networks. Findings – The proposed model shows its potential of contributing to…
Abstract Purpose – Antitrust exemptions to shipping alliances in the liner shipping sector have prevailed for many years. This study aims to examine anti-competition of ocean shipping alliances from a legal perspective of the USA, the European Union (EU) and People’s Republic of China (PRC).Design/methodology/approach – Adopting the standard “doctrinal approach to legal research and a…
Purpose – In times of increasing shipping risks and uncertainty, this paper aims to analyze fiercely competitive shipping markets in the Asia-Pacific region and helps the carriers develop the optimal pricing schemes, shipping networks (e.g., routes and shipping frequency), and future investment plans. Design/methodology/approach – This paper develops viable maritime logistics strategies…