A re-conceptualization of port supply chain management according to the service dominant logic perspective: a case study approach

Abstract

The increasing role of ports in the whole logistics system invites a more detailed examination of port supply chain management (Christopher, 1992; Meersman and Van de Voorde, 1996; Coyle et al., 2003; De Martino and Morvillo, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to provide a new perspective on port supply chain management according to the Service Dominant logic (S-D logic) perspective (Lusch et al., 2010; Lusch, 2011). Thus, the concepts of service, value co-creation, value propositions, operant resources, networks, service ecosystems and information technology are explored through a case study approach. A systematic analysis of the current supply chain (SCM) and port-related literature is carried out through the lens of the value co-creation process (actors, resources, actions for practice/service development and value). Drawing from the Service Dominant Logic perspective (Vargo and Lusch, 2008; Vargo, 2008; Gummesson et al., 2010) and the Service Science, this paper offers a more complete understanding of SCM in an innovative way which potentially lead to co-create value. The study takes a qualitative approach adopting a case study (Yin, 2003) to understand and explain the role of S-D Logic in the conceptualization of port supply chain management. The adoption of S-D logic perspective to port supply chain management enables identifying a system of value co-creation and competitiveness development, individualized according to the key stakeholders involved and the purpose it is created for. As this paper demonstrates, the port supply chain is re-conceptualized as a network of service systems each representing distinct (mostly operant) resource according to the service-dominant logic perspective (Lusch and Vargo, 2006). Hence, the main practical implication of this paper is the definition of a value co-creation process as a suitable perspective to develop ports’ competitiveness. The use of the model of S-D logic enables to design a comprehensive framework which allows planning the creation of competitive supply chains. The study represents a first attempt to analyse relations between port supply chain management according to the S-D logic perspective. This enables a more rigorous and comprehensive approach to understand ports’ competitiveness development.