Framework of managerial interventions for the enhancement of port organizational ecosystem’s resilience
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2025.22976Abstract
The purpose of this research is to present a conceptual model of Port Organizational Ecosystem (POE) resilience and to develop a framework of managerial interventions to enhance POE resilience in the conditions of high uncertainties. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through focus group interviews and analysed using thematic and statistical methods. The analysis identified key challenges, including global supply chain disruptions, technological advancements, and governance-related issues, emphasizing the critical role of adaptable governance frameworks in mitigating these challenges. Findings reveal that while technological innovations pose challenges, they also offer tools to enhance operational sustainability and resilience. The research highlights managerial weaknesses that complicate these challenges, underscoring the need for managerial interventions focusing on engagement, diversification, and compliance. Research implications suggest the necessity for adaptive leadership and governance structures that promote inclusivity and strategic foresight. Practically, this paper outlines a framework of managerial interventions for improving POE resilience, offering valuable insights for port authorities to integrate worldwide best practices into their operations. This study contributes original insights by linking governance patterns with resilience enhancement, providing a structured approach to understanding and improving POE resilience in the global maritime landscape.
Keywords:
entrepreneurship, managerial interventions, port organizational ecosystem, port resilience, port governanceHow to Cite
Share
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Akpinar, H., & Ozer Caylan, D. (2023). Modeling organizational resilience in maritime business: An ISM and MICMAC approach. Business Process Management Journal, 29(3), 597–629. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-05-2022-0224
Almeida, F. (2023). Challenges in the digital transformation of ports. Businesses, 3(4), 548–568. https://doi.org/10.3390/businesses3040034
Asadabadi, A., & Miller-Hooks, E. (2018). Co-opetition in enhancing global port network resiliency: A multi-leader, common-follower game theoretic approach. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 108, 281–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2018.01.004
Asariotis, R., Monioudi, I. N., Naray, V. M., Velegraikos, A. F., Vousdoukas, M. I., Mentaschi, L., & Feyen, L. (2024). Climate change and seaports: Hazards, impacts and policies and legislation for adaptation. Anthropocene Coasts, 7, Article 14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44218-024-00047-9
Barbour, R. (2007). Doing focus groups. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781849208956
Becker, A., & Kretsch, E. (2019). The leadership void for climate adaptation planning: Case study of the port of providence (Rhode Island, United States). Frontiers in Earth Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00029
Berle, O., Asbjornslett, B. E., & Rice, J. B. (2011). Formal vulnerability assessment of a maritime transportation system. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 96(6), 696–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2010.12.011
Bode, C., & Wagner, S. (2015). Structural drivers of upstream supply chain complexity and the frequency of supply chain disruptions. Journal of Operations Management, 36(1), 215–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2014.12.004
Brooks, M., & Pallis A. (2012). Port governance. In W. K. Talley, The maritime economics (pp. 491–516). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444345667.ch25
Burnard, K., & Bhamra, R. (2011). Organisational resilience: Development of a conceptual framework for organisational responses. International Journal of Production Research, 49(18), 5581–5599. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2011.563827
Ćelić, J., Vukšić, M., Baždarić, R., & Cuculić, A. (2025). The challenges of cyber resilience in the maritime sector: Addressing the weak awareness of the dangers caused by cyber threats. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(4), Article 762. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040762
Chen, J., Huang, T., Xie, X., Lee, P. T., & Hua, Ch. (2019). Constructing governance framework of a green and smart port. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 7(4), Article 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse7040083
Coşkun, A., & Erturgut, R. (2023). How do uncertainties affect supply-chain resilience? The moderating role of information sharing for sustainable supply-chain management. Sustainability, 16(1), Article 131. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010131
Ferreira, P. (2024). Developing a roadmap for implementing digital transformation to improve the resilience of port operations. International Journal of Scientific Management and Tourism, 10(3), Article e888. https://doi.org/10.55905/ijsmtv10n3-001
Gallo, F., Di Febbraro, A., Giglio, D., & Sacco, N. (2021, September). Global sensitivity analysis for the evaluation of the effects of uncertainty of transport demand and passenger behavior on planning railway services with variable train composition. In 2021 IEEE International Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference (ITSC) (pp. 2298–2305). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ITSC48978.2021.9564987
Golzarjannat, A., Ahokangas, P., Matinmikko-Blue, M., & Yrjola, S. (2021). A business model approach to port ecosystem. Journal of Business Models, 9(1), 13–19.
Grainger, A., & Achuthan, K. (2014). Pot resilience: A primer (Technical report). Nottingam University Business School. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294737031_Port_resilience_a_primer
Haezendonck, E., & Langenus, M. (2019). Integrated ports clusters and competitive advantage in an extended resource pool for the Antwerp Seaport. Maritime Policy & Management, 46(1), 74–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2018.1471535
He, X., Hu, W., Li, W., & Hu, R. (2023). Digital transformation, technological innovation, and operational resilience of port firms in case of supply chain disruption. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 190, Article 114811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114811
Hossain, N. U., Nur, F., Hosseini, S., Jaradat, R., Marufuzzaman, M., & Puryear, S. M. (2019). A Bayesian network-based approach for modelling and assessing resilience: A case study of a full-service deep-water port. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 189, 378–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2019.04.037
Huang, X., Wen, Y., Zhang, F., Han, H., Huang, Y., & Sui, Z. (2023). A review on risk assessment methods for maritime transport. Ocean Engineering, 279, Article 114577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.114577
Ibrahimi, K. (2017). A theoretical framework for conceptualizing seaport as institutional and operational clusters. Transportation Research Procedia, 25, 261–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2017.05.393
John, A., Yang, Z., Riahi, R., & Wang, J. (2016). A risk assessment approach to improve the resilience of a seaport system using Bayesian networks. Ocean Engineering, 111, 136–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.10.048
Kairuz, T., Crump, K., & O’Brien, G. (2007). Tools for data collection and analysis: Focus groups. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 37(2), 104–106.
Krueger, R. A. (2009). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. SAGE Publications.
Li, W., Vanelslander, T., Liu, W., & Xu, X. (2020). Co-evolution of port business ecosystem based on evolutionary game theory, Journal of Shipping and Trade, 5, Article 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-020-00072-0
Liu, Y., Kumar, S., Liu, H. Li, Sh, & Zhou, Z. (2025). ESG performance, digital transformation, and green innovation. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12, Article 1739. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-06027-9
Merk, O. (2020). China’s participation in European container ports: Drivers and possible future scenarios. Revue Internationale et Stratégique, 117(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.3917/ris.117.0041
Merk, O., Hoffmann, J., & Haralambides, H. (2022). Post-COVID-19 scenarios for the governance of maritime transport and ports. Maritime Economics & Logistics, 24(4), 673–685. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-022-00228-8
Morales, S. N., Martínez, L. R., Gómez, J. A., López, R. R., & Vianey, T. A. (2019). Predictors of organizational resilience by factorial analysis. International Journal of Engineering Business Management, 11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1847979019837046
Morgan, D. L. (1997). Focus groups as qualitative research. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412984287
Moser, S. C., Ekstrom, J. A., Kim, J., & Heitsch, S. (2019). Adaptation finance archetypes: Local governments’ persistent challenges of funding adaptation to climate change and ways to overcome them. Ecology and Society, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10980-240228
Nguyen, T., My Tran, D. T., Duc, T. T. H., & Thai, V. V. (2023). Managing disruptions in the maritime industry – a systematic literature review. Maritime Business Review, 8(2), 2397–3757. https://doi.org/10.1108/MABR-09-2021-0072
Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. SAGE Publications.
Phan, A. C., Nguyen, H. A., Trieu, P. D., Nguyen, H. T., & Matsui, Y. (2019). Impact of supply chain quality management practices on operational performance: Empirical evidence from manufacturing companies in Vietnam. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 24(6), 855–871. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-12-2018-0445
Purwitasari, D., Artana, K., Handani, D., & Prastyasari, F. (2025). A literature review: Enhancing maritime risk assessment through advanced fuzzy approach. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1461(1), Article 012033. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1461/1/012033
Rose, A. (2004). Defining and measuring economic resilience to disasters. Disaster Prevention and Management, 13(4), 307–314. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653560410556528
Rose, A., & Wei, D. (2013). Estimating the economic consequences of a port shutdown: The special role of resilience. Economic Systems Research, 25(2), 212–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/09535314.2012.731379
Shaw, D., Grainger, A., & Achuthan, K. (2017). Multi-level port resilience planning in the UK: How can information sharing be made easier? Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 121, 126–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.10.065
Valionienė, E. (2020). Assessment of the maritime transport sector attractiveness on the basis of theoretical seaport governance model [Doctoral dissertation, Mykolas Romeris University]. https://talpykla.elaba.lt/elaba-fedora/objects/elaba:79113822/datastreams/MAIN/content
Valionienė, E., & Kalvaitienė, G. (2023). Theoretical modelling of maritime business’ resilience enhancement possibilities in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. In Proceedings of 13th International scientific conference “Business and Management 2023” (pp. 52–61). Vilnius Tech. https://doi.org/10.3846/bm.2023.1073
Valionienė, E., & Plačienė, B. (2022). Resilience of seaport ecosystem: Theoretical approach and future research. In Transport Means 2022 – Proceedings of the 26th International Scientific Conference (pp. 688–693). ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369270575_Resilience_of_Seaport_Ecosystem_Theoretical_Approach_and_Future_Research
Valionienė, E., & Župerkienė, E. (2024). Port–city cultural interactions’ influence on sustainable coastal development. Les Cahiers Scientifiques du Transport, 82. https://doi.org/10.46298/cst.12678
Valioniene, E., Zuperkiene, E., & Placiene, B. (2024). Acceleration of green transitions on the base of port organizational ecosystem’s resilience enhancement: A socio-technological approach. Applied Sciences, 14(21), Article 9948. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219948
Van Leeuwen, J. (2015). The regionalization of maritime governance: Towards a polycentric governance system for sustainable shipping in the European Union. Ocean and Coastal Management, 117, 23–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.05.013
Verhoeven, P. (2010). A review of port authority functions: Towards a Renaissance. Maritime Policy and Management, 37(3), 247–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088831003700645
Yang, C.-S., & Lin, M. S.-M. (2025). Boosting resilience of maritime logistics operators: The importance of digitalization, leadership, and employee self-efficacy. Maritime Policy & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2025.2589421
View article in other formats
CrossMark check
Published
Issue
Section
Copyright
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.