Conceptual Model Development of Sustainability Practices: The Case of Port Operations for Collaboration and Governance

Dalwon Kang and Sihyun Kim
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Dalwon Kang: Department of Logistics, Northern Logistics Research and Support Centre, Donghae 25798, Korea
Sihyun Kim: Department of Logistics, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, Korea

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Sustainability practices in port operations are critical issue to achieve port sustainability involving economic, social and environmental issues. To assist ports to successfully implant sustainability practices into their operations, this paper conceptualized the structure of sustainability practices in international port operations, by clustering the relevant issues, empirically. Using 203 samples collected from port stakeholders in the major ports in Northeast Asia, multi-measurement items were analyzed on exploratory factor analysis in SPSS 21. Results generated a structure that consists of five sub-dimensions conceptualizing sustainability practices in the context of port operations. As operative practices to accommodate current and future demands in a port, the five-factor model clustering the relevant issues incorporate environmental technologies, process and quality improvement, monitoring and upgrading, communication and cooperation, and active participation. Providing useful insights for strategic agenda to assist ports to incorporate sustainability practices in their operations, the five-factor model offer both a descriptive and diagnostic management tool for future improvement in port operations.

Keywords: sustainability practice; international port operations; conceptual model development; Northeast Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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