Container lines continue to be a major transport mode linking most markets in global trade. To cater for growing customer demands, container lines have adopted various approaches such as forming strategic co-operations to achieve rapid growth and provide efficient services through the integration of resources. The spectrum of strategic co-operations among container lines varies from loose-knitted slot charters, liner conferences, shipping alliances, joint services and consortia, through to mergers and acquisitions. However, these forms of strategic co-operations have not always been able to achieve the intended synergetic growth resulting from the integration of tangible and intangible resources.
As opposed to tangible resources, the resource based view (RBV) suggests that the integration of intangible resources significantly contributes to the post strategic co-operation perfonnance of firms. The objective of this paper is to investigate the contribution of intangible resources to the performance of post strategic co-operations of container lines. The design used for this study is a two stage methodology enabling both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The two stage approach identifies firstly the views of senior managers on the importance of intangible resources and secondly how intangible resources are integrated in strategic co-operations among container lines. This paper highlights the outcomes of the first stage which was conducted via an exploratory mail survey. The sample consists of 47 senior managers attached to regional offices of leading global container lines and their agents in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The findings of the second stage, which was conducted by 36 in-person interviews, are explored in greater depth with a particular focus on (i) the extent that intangible resources are integrated in container lines, (ii) an assessment of the organisational and economic performance of container lines in their post strategic co-operations.
History
Publication title
Proceedings of the International Association of Maritime Economists 2012 Conference
Editors
YHV Lun
Pagination
1-16
Department/School
Australian Maritime College
Publisher
International Association of Maritime Economists
Place of publication
Kainan University
Event title
The International Association of Maritime Economists 2012 Conference
Event Venue
Taipei, Taiwan
Date of Event (Start Date)
2012-09-05
Date of Event (End Date)
2012-09-08
Rights statement
Copyright 2012 The Authors - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).