Analyzing the Causal Model for the Effect of Organizational Factors, Human Resources and Technology on Agility of the Iranian Maritime Transport Chain through Structural Equations Modeling

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to design and clarify a causal model for the effect of organizational factors, human resources and technological factors on the agility of the Iranian maritime transport chain. The causal relationships in the proposed model were designed by studying and applying the previous agility theories and models as well as by analyzing the business structure of the maritime transportation industry in Iran. The following four components were classified and included in this model: human resources agility, technological agility, organizational factors agility, and maritime transport chain agility. Accordingly, five hypotheses were developed for testing the fit of the maritime transport chain agility model and the effect of the other three components on this component. The data for this research was collected using a questionnaire and the statistical population included the experts and managers working for the Iranian transportation industry organizations. The sample size was calculated to be 255 but only 229 participants completed and returned the questionnaires. The structural equations method was employed to test the research hypotheses and the model fit. Results of the analyses revealed the good fit of the maritime transport chain agility model. Moreover, all of the five secondary hypotheses except for the hypothesis on the direct effect of organizational factors on the transport chain were approved. Keywords: Iranian maritime transport chain agility; organizational factors agility, human resources agility, structural equations modeling