Complexity theory applied to management of shipping companies

Alexander M. Goulielmos

Maritime Policy & Management, 2002, vol. 29, issue 4, 375-391

Abstract: Theory of complexity, in the author's opinion, describes life better than the hitherto available theories, as it deals more effectively with dynamic, non-linear and cyclical phenomena. The author will here attempt the application of the theory of complexity to the management of shipping companies, especially those of Greek management style. This paper will also deal with the relationship of competition in shipping. The question that will be put and answered is whether a firm should be a hierarchical, inflexible structure, ordered from above. If, however, a company is seen as a self-organized emerging order, then a new approach must be adopted, i.e. that of complexity theory. The choice of the above combination is because a shipping environment is indeed unpredictable, volatile, cyclical and international, as well as complex. It is believed that this new theory can yield a new, more pragmatic, insight into the way shipping companies and ships should be managed. The innovative element of this work is that it will be the first time internationally (except for the work of Li and Parsons [1]) that the theory of complexity will be applied to shipping. In addition, no previous attempts have been made to apply this theory to management of shipping companies.

Date: 2002
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DOI: 10.1080/03088830210144305

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