Knowledge acquisition and maritime logistics value : an inter-organisational relationship perspective
Abstract
Maritime logistics value (i.e. improving operational efficiency and service effectiveness
in maritime logistics) is one of the strategic goals that maritime operators (i.e. port
operators, shipping lines and freight forwarders) want to achieve. Due to the lack of a
systematic approach towards maritime logistics management, however, existing
literature has yet to clearly define what strategic direction should be taken to accomplish
such goals. This thesis proposes that a knowledge-based strategy is the most desirable
alternative, having diagnosed its effectiveness in creating and sustaining maritime
logistics value.
The thesis consists of theoretical and empirical sections. The theoretical part reviews the
work of maritime logistics and operators within the context of global logistics and
strategic management theory (especially, knowledge-based and inter-organisational
relationship perspectives). The theoretical review clarifies the strategic objective of
maritime operators, and highlights the importance of a knowledge management strategy
towards such a business goal. Based on the literature review, the research develops a
conceptual framework that shows the positive relationship between knowledge
acquisition and maritime logistics value, and the role of social network embeddedness
in acquiring knowledge.
The empirical work undertaken to examine the conceptual relationship adopts a
qualitative approach: an explorative case study and a Delphi survey. The explorative
case study utilises an interview method with a semi-structured questionnaire, and two
rounds of the Delphi survey are then conducted by collecting data from a panel of
experts in the field. The two research methods are applied to the maritime logistics
industry in Korea, where the strategic significance of maritime logistics value becomes
ever more obvious. The empirical findings indicate that maritime operators acquire
useful knowledge through being embedded in social co-operative and co-opetitive
networks, and the acquired knowledge helps them to maximise the maritime logistics
value.
The work presented hereafter provides a meaningful insight for managers, policy
makers and academic researchers into the knowledge management strategy and
effective administration of a maritime logistics system in the context of interorganisational
relationship. However, this thesis has not examined the way to apply the
acquired knowledge on an internal basis of an organisation, and focuses solely on a
qualitative approach. It is suggested that a quantitative and in-depth discussion on the
knowledge-based maritime logistics research within an intra-organisational level be
made by linking maritime operators’ strategy with macro-issues in global supply chains.