Maritime Transport as an Area of Competitive Advantage in International Marketing

© 2000, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.This study considers the maritime transport industry as a part of the international marketing system and analyses the factors affecting the competitive advantage of exporters as customers of the industry. Turkey is a leading exporter of dried fruits -the locus of this study- and maritime transport is the main transport mode employed. Exporters with annual export figures higher than 150,000 dollars have been approached and a response rate of 87.14% was achieved. Based on company profiles on business and transport functions, factor analysis -including reliability analysis- has been undertaken. The study presents the 13 factors that help strengthen the competitive position of exporters. Among these factors, the ones related to maritime transport have received highest loadings and highest frequencies. With the support of reliability analysis it has been shown that exporters consider transport in general, and maritime transport in particular, as factors important in creating and sustaining competitive advantage

Market orientation measures of the U.S. and Turkish shipbuilding industries: A comparative study

The world shipbuilding industry performs in a concentrated market where the rules of competition are set internationally. The main objective of the present study was to analyze the market orientation measures in the industry, concentrating mainly on marketing research: Issue analysis (external and internal environment); segmentation, targeting, differentiation and positioning strategies; marketing mix decisions, and organizational aspects of the marketing function. To assist internationally applicable results, the study was carried out in two different populations, namely the shipyards in Turkey and in the United States, and comparative results were obtained in the mentioned marketing management measures. The results prove that market segmentation, market targeting, differentiation, positioning, price, place and promotion elements differ between shipyards of the U.S. and Turkey. It is also concluded that shipyards with more developed marketing organizations approach market orientation determinants of modern marketing effectively, and that a competent approach to market orientation measures strengthens the competitive position and success in customer choices

Intercultural Communication Competence: A study about the Intercultural Sensitivity of university students based on their education and international experiences

Today, globalisation refers to not only the transferring of goods and services but also people, knowledge, technology, business and even cultures. These triggers of globalisation add new concepts to the literature one of which is Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC). Education is one of the key factors in the way to ICC. This study aims to analyse the Intercultural Sensitivity (IS) levels of university students and the contribution of education and intercultural experience on the formation of ICC. Findings of the study have revealed that students' respect for different cultures improves with the level of engagement in international interactions. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Logistics and transportation information systems in Turkey: E-government perspectives

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to make an overall research on transport applications and discuss the critical success factors of e-transport applications in Turkey. Design/methodology/approach: Based on literature review on e-government applications, this paper builds on theoretical understanding of critical success factors in e-transport applications. Findings: Considering the critical success factors in transport related e-government services in Turkey, increasing logistics and transportation activities, national information system strategy towards the advanced information technology applications, adoption of European Union and international standards, awareness of transport industry about the importance of information technology, new regulations for information technology, priorities in providing financial incentives for information technology based innovation projects are determined as some of the opportunities for the development of information technology in Turkey. In terms of threats, insufficient use of e-transport services due to security and privacy problems, need for substantial financial resources, fragmented nature of organizational aspects, limited number of information technology providers in transport applications, insufficient amount of R&D and need for substantial financial resources are determined as threats for transport related government services. Research limitations/implications: This paper is considered only for e-transport applications in Turkey. Practical implications: The results can be used to develop policies to increase e-government adoption. Originality/value: Critical success factors method addresses the requirements for developing e-government policies. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Yakıt Tipinin ve Hibrit Sevk Sisteminin Yakıt Tüketimine Etkisi: İzmir Alsancak Limanında Bir Hizmet Gemisi İçin Uygulama

Denizcilik sektöründe sistemlerin işletilmesi sırasında kullanılan araçların enerji tüketimini azaltma yolunda dünya çapında araştırma ve geliştirme çalışmaları yapılmakta ve bu çalışmaları yaparken çevreci olma şartı istenmektedir. Uluslararası Denizcilik Örgütü (IMO) ‘nün MARPOL Ek VI "Gemilerden Kaynaklanan Hava Kirliliğinin Önlenmesine Yönelik Düzenlemeler" göz önünde bulundurulduğunda deniz taşıtlarında enerji kazanımı ve düşük salım değerleri elde etmek, daha fazla önem arz etmektedir. Bu bağlamda deniz ulaştırma sistemlerinde enerji kazanımı sağlamak için gemi ana makinesinde, gemi gövdesi ve sevk sisteminde teknolojik gelişmelere katkı sağlayacak çalışmalar yapılmaktadır. IMO tarafından oluşturulan Enerji Verimliliği Tasarım Endeksi yeni inşa edilen gemiler için en önemli parametrelerden biri olup daha fazla enerji tasarrufu yapan ve daha az salım yapan ekipman ve gemi makinelerin kullanımını teşvik etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu çalışmada liman işletim sisteminin önemli bir parçası olan, gemilerin zamanında limana girip çıkmaları ve manevralarına doğrudan destek veren römorkörlerin, römorkaj hizmeti esnasındaki yakıt tüketimi değerleri, toplam operasyon süreleri, kullanılan yakıtların tipi ve bu yakıtların analiz değerleri elde edilmektedir. Römorkaj hizmeti veren römorkörlerde var olan ana makine sisteminde iyileştirmeler teorik olarak ele alınmış ve sistem üzerindeki etkilerini gösterilmektedir. Operasyon sırasında sistemde kullanılan yakıtın yerine alternatif yakıtların kullanılmasıyla sistemde oluşabilecek olumlu ve olumsuz sonuçlar ifade edilmektedir.Research and development activities are being carried out around the world in order to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicles used in the maritime industry while operating the maritime transport systems. By taking into consideration the International Maritime Organization's (MARPOL Annex VI) "Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution Arising from Ships", it is more important to obtain energy savings and low emission values in marine vessels. Concordantly, efforts are being made to contribute to technological developments in main engines, shipbuilding and propulsion systems in order to achieve energy recovery in marine transportation systems. The Energy Efficiency Design Index created by IMO is one of the most important parameters for newly built vessels and aims to encourage the use of more energy saving and less emissions equipment and ship machinery. In this study, fuel consumption, total operation times, type of fuel used and analysis values of fuel of tugboats during towage service were obtained. Improvements in the main engine system that exist in tugboats are theoretically examined and their effects on the system are shown. By using alternative fuels instead of the fuel used during the operation, positive and negative results that can be occured in the system have been expressed

Logistics and shipping information systems in Turkey

Logistics is becoming a necessary factor to be competitive. In logistics systems; diversified products, short order cycle times, shipping in small quantities, high frequency and reliability of deliveries, customer service orientation, low stock level and rapid inventory turnover, timely and accurate information requirements are common features. Besides, higher customer's expectations of services and / or products, increased globalization of business are factors that will impact future logistics management, and increased global competition are factors that are important in future logistics management. As it is widely accepted, there are two common flows in logistics, namely: material and information. Logistics information systems are effective tools to establish efficient and effective information flow. The logistics information capability which facilitates efficient information flow is also a very important element in further improvement of the logistics systems by enhancing the productivity of the logistics system by enhancing the productivity of logistics activities. In this paper, an outline of the components of logistics and transport information systems are given. Second, the infrastructure for logistics information systems in Turkey is explained