Title: The role of agility and organisational learning culture in forming long lasting relations in shipping

Authors: Angelos Pantouvakis; Maria Karakasnaki

Addresses: Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, 21 Grigoriou Labraki & Distomou, 185 33, Piraeus, Greece ' Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, 21 Grigoriou Labraki & Distomou, 185 33, Piraeus, Greece

Abstract: The current study aims to introduce and examine the role of agility and organisational learning culture towards enhancing customer relationship quality at the corporate environment level. Using a sample of 17 ports internationally, the study results revealed that the ability of a firm to ensure a long-lasting quality relationship with its customers is directly and positively influenced by its agility and its learning culture. Following the organic view of the firm, this study advocates that, in order to establish strong and committed quality relationships, focusing solely on organisational learning is not enough; organisations should constantly and effectively adapt to changes in their external environment and reorganise their internal structures and systems or in other words be agile.

Keywords: agility; organisational learning; culture; relationship quality; shipping.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2018.090096

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2018 Vol.10 No.2, pp.160 - 180

Received: 28 Jan 2016
Accepted: 21 Apr 2017
Published online: 28 Feb 2018 *

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