Strategic Management in the Maritime Sector: A Case Study of Poland and Germany (Plymouth Studies in Contemporary Shipping and Logistics)

Strategic Management in the Maritime Sector: A Case Study of Poland and Germany (Plymouth Studies in Contemporary Shipping and Logistics) Review

Produced by the Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth, and the University of Gdansk, the papers in this text are written by leading experts in the field of development economics with respect to the maritime sector. They include papers on developments in both the Polish and German Baltic regions, covering research on ports, shipping operators, ancillary industries such as freight forwarders and agents, and the role of shipping as a development catalyst in the region. There are further papers from the University of Rostock, the leading transport and logistics institution in the former East Germany.

Road Freight and Privatisation: The Case of Egypt (Plymouth Studies in Contemporary Shipping)

Road Freight and Privatisation: The Case of Egypt (Plymouth Studies in Contemporary Shipping) Review

This work examines both successes and failures of privatization and seeks to adopt a critical approach. The very idea of privatization has been called into question by some commentators, particularly in the context of transport, which often has prominent environmental and social factors to be taken into account. For this reason, this book devotes a chapter to the external environmental and social costs associated with road haulage and its privatization. It can also be seen as part of the increasing body of published work on business logistic and supply chain management. There has been a rapid growth of interest in logistics in recent years as manufacturers, retailers and other members of the supply chain appreciate the benefits of an integrated approach to production, the management of inventory, customer service and transport, particularly when associated with international distribution. The globalization of international business and its supply chains has led to a world-wide demand for higher quality freight transport services by all modes of transport. Most of the literature on logistics is associated with developed countries, particularly in North America and Western Europe, and there is a shortage of published work on logistics for developing countries, which are, nevertheless, part of the same global supply system. Poor transport systems in developing countries reduce the effectiveness of international supply chains and, consequently, the attractiveness of such countries for general industrial investment by overseas corporations.

Shipping Company Strategies: Global Management under Turbulent Conditions

Shipping Company Strategies: Global Management under Turbulent Conditions Review

This book is about developing implementable strategies for shipping firms. It opens with an initial historical retrospective that highlights cases on A.P. Moller-Maersk and Leif Hoegh and Co. Here the reader is introduced to the global nature of competition in shipping, as well as the volatility of shipping markets. The book then turns to the question of how to play these markets. It looks at commodity based shipping company strategies for the bulk carrier, tanker container-ship and other segments. Here, the focus is on both going long-short, in-out, and maintaining a low cost base. Next is a discussion of operations versus asset play. The book analyzes Marsoft's forecasting methodology, with case studies on The Torvald Klaveness Group, Norden, Frontline and Teekay. The book then takes a close look at the challenge of driving one's strategy towards niches, i.e. on-commodity segments, with a spotlight on how to find a viable business opportunity and develop a defendable strength there. Examples come from I.M. Skaugen, Farstad Shipping, The Torvald Klaveness Group and Leif Hoegh and Co. Since overall corporate-wide portfolio strategies can be important in shipping, particularly if the various elements in the portfolio are relatively unrelated, the next part of the book turns to analytical approaches, citing several examples. Then follows a discussion of key organizational issues, particularly how to create and sustain more effective, predominantly network-based organizations. The penultimate subject is the important role the board of directors can play here. Finally, the role of family firms, and the future of shipping firms, is discussed, again with several rich examples.