Title: An evaluation of the success factors for ship management companies using fuzzy evaluation method

Authors: Jun-woo Jeon; Gi-Tae Yeo; Vinh V. Thai; Tsz Leung Yip

Addresses: Graduate School of Logistics, Incheon National University, South Korea ' Graduate School of Logistics, Incheon National University, South Korea ' School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore ' Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Abstract: The aim of this research is to identify the success factors for shipping management companies (SMCs), to evaluate the importance of these factors, and finally to determine the differences in perceptions between ship owners and SMCs. The fuzzy evaluation method together with experts' knowledge is used, because they are capable of overcoming evaluation difficulties by accommodating both tangible and intangible variables in one single framework of evaluation. The differences between ship owners and SMCs' perceptions are then established. The results show that SMCs rank 'quick responses to ship owners' first, followed by 'ship management fees' and 'the efficient management of ships' operational costs'. Ship owners perceive 'the efficient management of ships' operational costs', 'the ability to recruit the full required manpower' and 'the potential for high-quality management' as most important.

Keywords: ship management companies; SMCs; ship owners; expert knowledge; fuzzy evaluation method; success factors; shipping industry; fuzzy logic; fuzzy set theory; triangular fuzzy numbers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2016.077307

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2016 Vol.8 No.4, pp.389 - 405

Received: 06 Aug 2014
Accepted: 20 Jun 2015

Published online: 28 Jun 2016 *

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