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The Performance of Seaport Clusters - RePub - Erasmus Universiteit ...

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206<br />

Table 88: Cluster manager investments in the LMPC<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Performance</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Seaport</strong> <strong>Clusters</strong><br />

Role <strong>of</strong> port authority Direct cost recovery Indirect cost recovery<br />

Investments in port<br />

cluster (location)<br />

Investments in transport<br />

node<br />

City development<br />

Training for foreign port managers<br />

‘Standard investments’ such as<br />

dredging, quay construction, traffic<br />

control’.<br />

Partnerships with hinterland ports<br />

Market intelligence<br />

<strong>The</strong>se tables show that the port authority <strong>of</strong> Rotterdam acts to a large extent as cluster<br />

manager. <strong>The</strong> port authorities in both other clusters act cluster managers to a lesser extent.<br />

In Durban, the port authority transforms from a service port to a landlord port. <strong>The</strong><br />

organization has not (yet) developed cluster management routines. In the LMPC, port<br />

authorities play a more modest role. <strong>The</strong> experts expect an increase in cluster management<br />

involvement <strong>of</strong> the port authorities in Durban and the LMPC.<br />

14.7 Suggestions for further research<br />

<strong>The</strong> conclusions <strong>of</strong> this study are a basis for further research. Four suggestions for further<br />

research are discussed.<br />

• This study claims the role <strong>of</strong> cluster manager is an important potential competence for<br />

port authorities. However, the role <strong>of</strong> port authorities as cluster managers is little<br />

understood. Differences between a cluster manager and a landlord could be explored<br />

further. <strong>The</strong> theoretical basis provided in this study also allows for an analysis <strong>of</strong><br />

organizational and institutional transformations <strong>of</strong> port authorities.<br />

• Second, leader firms can improve the quality <strong>of</strong> the governance <strong>of</strong> clusters (and the<br />

collective action regimes) substantially. Examples <strong>of</strong> leader firm behavior were found in<br />

all three cases. It can be argued that the potential benefits <strong>of</strong> leader firm involvement<br />

are especially large in ports in developing countries, because <strong>of</strong> the skills and<br />

knowledge leader firms can transfer. Thus, the role <strong>of</strong> (internationally operating) leader<br />

firms in port clusters in developing countries is an interesting and relevant research<br />

theme.

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