Structural changes in the organisation of world trade and implications for the shipping industry

Abstract

The report documents the results of a research and technical development (RTD) project focusing on the implication for the shipping industry of structural changes in the organisation of world trade. Among the many driving forces behind globalisation of trade and of business trends in logistics and supply chains have been identified and looked into. Characteristic features of leading firms have been identified.

The recommendations for the shipping companies comprise the development of an analytic framework consisting of two dimensions. Together, these two dimensions serve to identify central questions in global strategies of sea transport firms. The vertical dimension uses four categories developed for the report as the dimensions of change (product, time, space and actors). Against this dimension a horizontal dimension is drawn, consisting of what we see as three crucial strategy areas (marketing, logistics and Human Resource Management (HRM) for sea transport firms.

It is further recommended to base the development of the analytical framework on the use of scenario technique. This is a good strategic planning method when it comes to structuring a mass of more or less conflicting development trends of varying degree of quantification.