Barriers to the Development of Port Operator Supply Chain Integration: An Evaluation in a Developing Country

In this multimethod research, the authors build on the customer portfolio literature to theorize a two-dimensional matrix between the strategic importance of a port operator's customers and the customers’ perceptions of the port operator's supply chain integration (SCI). The matrix highlights two mismatches: (1) important customers do not perceive a high degree of port operator SCI; and (2) low-importance customers perceive a high degree of port operator SCI. In the former, the port operator's investments are wasted, while in the latter the port operator reaps benefits from minimal investments. In their first study, the authors classify 1,441 customers of a Brazilian port operator into three levels of strategic importance: high, medium, and low. A survey instrument sent to these customers measured the perceived port operators’ SCI by 210 customers, and the analysis revealed a mismatch for 76 percent of the companies. The second study examines the reasons for the mismatch. Semi-structured interviews highlighted that the perceived unfairness of the port operator's operational decision making and negative experiences with other supply chain members negatively affected the SCI perceptions of customers. The authors also found a spillover effect: low-importance customers perceived a high level of SCI due to the port operator's operational investments in its important customers.

• Record URL:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.5325/transportationj.60.2.0141
• Record URL:
  https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/transportationj.60.2.0141
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1588960
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Copyright © 2021 This abstract is reprinted by permission of The Pennsylvania State University Press.
• Authors:
  • Branco, Murilo
  • Teixeira, Rafael
  • Mir, Saif
  • Lacerda, Daniel P
• Publication Date: 2021

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: pp 141-170
• Serial:
  • Transportation Journal
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society of Transportation and Logistics
  • ISSN: 0041-1612
  • Serial URL: https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/transportation-journal

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Customer service; Port operations; Strategic planning; Supply chain management
• Geographic Terms: Brazil
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01778548
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 2021 5:51PM