Title: The influence of the characterisation factors of the European ports on operational performance: conceptual model testing

Authors: J. Augusto Felício; Vitor R. Caldeirinha

Addresses: Management Department, School of Economics and Management (ISEG), Technical University of Lisbon, Rua Miguel Lupi, 20, 1249-078 Lisbon, Portugal ' CEGE – Centre for Management Studies, School of Economics and Management (ISEG), Rua Miguel Lupi, 20, 1249-078 Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract: The study analyses the relationships between the characterisation factors and the operational performance of ports. The research model, based on performance theory, suggests the existence of a set of relationships between several factors that characterise ports, and argues that they influence the ports' operational performance. Drawing on path analysis methodology supported by structural equation modelling (SEM), the results obtained from a sample of 43 of the largest European ports indicate that relationships between location, specialisation, size, shipping services and infrastructure, and operational performance do exist. The study also identifies the independent and mediating variables.

Keywords: European ports; operational performance; characterisation factors; structural equation modelling; SEM; path analysis; port location; port specialisation; port size; shipping services; port infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2013.054191

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2013 Vol.5 No.3, pp.282 - 302

Received: 14 Dec 2011
Accepted: 17 Dec 2012

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article