Value creation in inter-organizational collaboration: designing sustainable port development strategies

Objective. The objective of the paper is to define a qualitative and quantitative evaluation system of value creation in the inter-organizational collaboration for designing sustainable port development strategies. Specific objectives are to determine which resources are more critical for different pillars of sustainability (i.e. social, environmental, economic), and how different combination of resources among partners co-create sustainable value. Data/methodology. The paper adopts a multidisciplinary approach of analysis of value creation in the inter-organizational collaboration, combining managerial, social, political, environmental and entrepreneurial perspectives. It also adopts a multilevel approach of analysis of value creation - firms, supply chain and network - by considering the benefits within and outside the inter-organizational collaboration. Drawing on network and supply chain literature, a multi-stakeholders and multidisciplinary framework of analysis is developed by recognizing that complex inter-organizational settings embody several bundles of resources, which can be associated with distinct sources of value creation and benefits. To this end, a set of indicators will be defined to qualify and quantify value creation internally and externally to the partnership. Results/findings. A comprehensive quali-quantitative evaluation system of value creation will be defined. This evaluation system is aimed at combining and exploring sources and types of value creation through collaboration. The anchoring of strategies to this evaluation system can contribute to achieve sustainable objectives such as economic growth, employment new jobs, and reduction of environmental impacts. The final output is a framework for the analysis of value creation in port logistics network. The basic assumption is that the greater potential of value co-creation in the port logistics network stem from the greater variety of actors that jointly develop or mobilize resources in the network. Value is endogenously created within this collaborative network, with external social, economic and environmental benefits for the society and the territory. Implication for research/policy. Although each port logistics network is a unique blend of environmental, economic and social challenges, the proposed framework of analysis can support policy makers of any context in identifying key resources at firms, supply chain and network levels, and the sources of value creation for designing sustainable development strategies. Supply chains taxonomy according to collaboration typologies can shed light on governance models and their interplay in influencing value creation, and thus can support policy makers in defining the priorities of policy agenda in connection to the relational dynamics shaping local contexts.