Maritime container terminal process maturity : a methodological approach and empirical evidence

Abstract

PURPOSE: The study aims to determine and evaluate the process maturity of Polish maritime container terminals. The research was conducted on the example of three medium-sized Polish maritime container terminals.

METHODOLOGY: A few research methods were applied, literature review, questionnaire method, comparative analysis, and process maturity model for maritime container terminals which was specially developed by the authors for this study.

FINDINGS: Conducted research implies that the three biggest Polish maritime container terminals are considered as mature enough in the context of their processes. In the adopted methodology, the two examined terminals are at the highest level of process maturity, which implies that processes are continuously improved and developed. Within this group there are merely slight differences in the received points – the CT1 is considered the most mature in the context of processes ahead of CT2. However, CT3 is well below the level of its competitors The differences reflect not only their unequal market position but also their different approaches to process management strategies.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study could be considered an interesting source of information for maritime container terminal operators as well as their direct and indirect customers, i.e. container ship operators, maritime forwarders, and shippers. This concept can also become a significant part of a comprehensive assessment of the quality of container terminal services and their current and potential competitiveness, enabling the ranking of these intermodal transport nodes in terms of logistics efficiency.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This research is the first that attempted to develop the process maturity model for maritime container terminals and verified empirically the process maturity level of Polish maritime container terminals. Moreover, such a model could be used to compare and enhance the process maturity within the logistics supply chains by their operators.