How supply chain oriented is the port sector?

초록

Although the current literature has recognized the importance of supply chain orientation for ports and terminals, there is very little empirical study done on this issue. The lack of empirical evidence supporting supply chain orientation as essential for ports and terminals to function effectively has so far limited the scholarly discussion of this important issue at a theoretical level. This paper attempts to investigate whether in fact this is the case with the port of Incheon and to measure the degree of its supply chain orientation. This empirical investigation hopes to contribute to the literature by considering the port of Incheon as a case in point and by measuring the degree of its supply chain orientation, using certain valid indicators drawn from the current literature, and its effect on port performance. This paper also differs from previous empirical studies by assessing the supply chain orientation not only from the operator’s viewpoint but also from port users’ perspectives. The findings of this study will have significant strategic policy implications and will hopefully shed more light on the relationship between supply orientation and port performance.