A Grounded Theory Approach in the Identification of Enabling and Inhibiting Factors Affecting the Performance of Container Terminals

Physical infrastructure, digital infrastructure, hinterland connectivity, logistic costs, among others, have influenced the performance of container terminals in both positive and negative ways. The objective of this study is to identify the enabling and inhibiting factors which impact the operational and financial performance of a container terminal in India. The case details on container terminals in India over the period 2015-2018 are considered for the study. The cases are then analysed using the grounded theory approach, with the help of the MAXQDA software, which enables the development of codes into concepts and the further formation of these concepts into certain categories. Finally, these categories are turned into a conceptual map to test the performance of a container terminal. The identified factors have been checked for their statistical significance using chi-square tests from a questionnaire survey of 29 port experts. This study has identified 30 enabling factors and 11 inhibiting factors that affect the performance of container terminals in India. It was found that 14 enabling factors are prominent in more than five container terminals. They include factors, such as addition of new mainline services, better hinterland connectivity, proximity to industrial development, proximity to inland container depots (ICDs), proximity to container freight stations (CFS), private sector participation, handling transhipment volumes, online monitoring and updating, handling coastal services, addition of cargo handling equipment, adoption of modern container handling equipment and deepening drafts. The diversity of the enabling factors across several container terminals prompts each container terminal to have its own set of enabling and inhibiting factors. Furthermore, the advantages observed from the enabling factor(s) of one terminal are found to be useful in treating the inhibiting factor(s) of another terminal; thereby, supporting the improvement of its performance.

Automated summary

The study aims to identify the enabling and inhibiting factors that impact the performance of container terminals in India, uncovering 30 enabling factors and 11 inhibiting factors. Each terminal has its own set of enabling and inhibiting factors, and leveraging the advantages of enabling factors can help improve terminal performance.