IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i5p2543-d506475.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Exploration of Social License to Operate (SLTO) Measurement in the Port Industry: The Case of North America

Author

Listed:
  • Bruno Moeremans

    (Department of Business, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Michaël Dooms

    (Department of Business, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

In this paper, we develop exploratory research to improve the understanding of actual practices applied in the port industry relating to local communities’ perception measurement and public engagement, aiming at maintaining and fostering relationships with local communities. The application of such practices would allow port managing bodies to improve their strategic alignment with the needs and requirements of their local communities. To this end, we distributed a survey to North American port managing bodies and terminal operators. The survey, answered by 37 respondents, follows a structure defined by critical elements affecting stakeholder perceptions and acceptability in relation to a project or an ongoing business activity. The results disclose differences in social license to operate measurement and public engagement practices between port managing bodies and terminal operators. Furthermore, follow-up interviews were conducted with eight port managing bodies in order to capture the value added and the barriers to engage with local communities. Finally, the study enables benchmarking possibilities both within the sample and on a global level, giving an indication and assessment of the respondents’ competitive positions regarding stakeholder perceptions, communication, and engagement practices, and the steps to be taken in order to strengthen any strategic and competitive state.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Moeremans & Michaël Dooms, 2021. "An Exploration of Social License to Operate (SLTO) Measurement in the Port Industry: The Case of North America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2543-:d:506475
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2543/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2543/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Magali Delmas & Michael W. Toffel, 2004. "Stakeholders and environmental management practices: an institutional framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 209-222, July.
    2. Olaf Hübler & Jachim Frohn (ed.), 2006. "Modern Econometric Analysis," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-540-32693-9, July.
    3. Voyer, Dr Michelle & van Leeuwen, Dr Judith, 2019. "‘Social license to operate’ in the Blue Economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 102-113.
    4. Henriques, Irene & Sadorsky, Perry, 1996. "The Determinants of an Environmentally Responsive Firm: An Empirical Approach," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 381-395, May.
    5. Mary R. Brooks & Athanasios A. Pallis, 2008. "Assessing port governance models: process and performance components," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(4), pages 411-432, August.
    6. Peter de Langen, 2004. "Governance in Seaport Clusters," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 6(2), pages 141-156, June.
    7. Elvira Haezendonck & Michael Dooms & Alain Verbeke, 2014. "A new governance perspective on port–hinterland relationships: The Port Hinterland Impact (PHI) matrix," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 16(3), pages 229-249, September.
    8. Parola, Francesco & Pallis, Athanasios A. & Risitano, Marcello & Ferretti, Marco, 2018. "Marketing strategies of Port Authorities: A multi-dimensional theorisation," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 199-212.
    9. Francesca Moglia & Marco Sanguineri, 2003. "Port Planning: the Need for a New Approach?," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 5(4), pages 413-425, December.
    10. Magali Geerts & Michaël Dooms, 2020. "Sustainability Reporting for Inland Port Managing Bodies: A Stakeholder-Based View on Materiality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, February.
    11. Susanne Rässler & Regina Riphahn, 2006. "Survey item nonresponse and its treatment," AStA Advances in Statistical Analysis, Springer;German Statistical Society, vol. 90(1), pages 217-232, March.
    12. Sanjay Sharma & Irene Henriques, 2005. "Stakeholder influences on sustainability practices in the Canadian forest products industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 159-180, February.
    13. Stephen Cahoon, 2007. "Marketing communications for seaports: a matter of survival and growth," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 151-168, April.
    14. Moffat, Kieren & Zhang, Airong, 2014. "The paths to social licence to operate: An integrative model explaining community acceptance of mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 61-70.
    15. Patrick Verhoeven, 2010. "A review of port authority functions: towards a renaissance?," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(3), pages 247-270, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. J. Augusto Felício & Manuela Batista & Michael Dooms & Vítor Caldeirinha, 2023. "How do sustainable port practices influence local communities’ perceptions of ports?," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(2), pages 351-380, June.
    2. Toby Roberts & Ian Williams & John Preston & Nick Clarke & Melinda Odum & Stefanie O'Gorman, 2021. "A Virtuous Circle? Increasing Local Benefits from Ports by Adopting Circular Economy Principles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-25, June.
    3. Dante Rodríguez-Luna & Nuria Vela & Francisco Javier Alcalá & Francisco Encina-Montoya, 2021. "The Environmental Impact Assessment in Aquaculture Projects in Chile: A Retrospective and Prospective Review Considering Cultural Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Marta Vicente-Lama & Pilar Tirado-Valencia & Mercedes Ruiz-Lozano & Magdalena Cordobés-Madueño, 2023. "The impact of sectoral guidelines on sustainability reporting in ports: the case of the Spanish ports," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(3), pages 499-519, September.
    5. Toby Roberts & Ian Williams & John Preston & Nick Clarke & Melinda Odum & Stefanie O’Gorman, 2021. "Love Thy Neighbour: Social Benefits and Port-City Relationships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-18, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. de Langen, P.W. & Heij, C., 2013. "Performance Effects of the Corporatisation of Port of Rotterdam Authority," Econometric Institute Research Papers EI2013-06, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
    2. Lixiang Wang & Weian Li & Lujun Qi, 2020. "Stakeholder Pressures and Corporate Environmental Strategies: A Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Lyton Chithambo & Venancio Tauringana & Ishmael Tingbani & Laura Achiro, 2022. "Stakeholder pressure and greenhouses gas voluntary disclosures," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 159-172, January.
    4. Qi Guoyou & Zeng Saixing & Tam Chiming & Yin Haitao & Zou Hailiang, 2013. "Stakeholders' Influences on Corporate Green Innovation Strategy: A Case Study of Manufacturing Firms in China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Ruxi Wang & Frank Wijen & Pursey P.M.A.R. Heugens, 2018. "Government's green grip: Multifaceted state influence on corporate environmental actions in China," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 403-428, February.
    6. James Cordeiro & Manish Tewari, 2015. "Firm Characteristics, Industry Context, and Investor Reactions to Environmental CSR: A Stakeholder Theory Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 833-849, September.
    7. Mônica Cavalcanti Sá de Abreu, 2009. "How to define an environmental policy to improve corporate sustainability in developing countries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(8), pages 542-556, December.
    8. Patricia Kanashiro, 2020. "Can environmental governance lower toxic emissions? A panel study of U.S. high‐polluting industries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 1634-1646, May.
    9. Quang Le Van & Thanh Viet Nguyen & Manh Hung Nguyen, 2019. "Sustainable development and environmental policy: The engagement of stakeholders in green products in Vietnam," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 675-687, July.
    10. David G Hyatt & Nicholas Berente, 2017. "Substantive or Symbolic Environmental Strategies? Effects of External and Internal Normative Stakeholder Pressures," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1212-1234, December.
    11. Franck Brulhart & Sandrine Gherra & Bertrand V. Quelin, 2019. "Do Stakeholder Orientation and Environmental Proactivity Impact Firm Profitability?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 25-46, August.
    12. Behzad Behdani & Bart Wiegmans & Violeta Roso & Hercules Haralambides, 2020. "Port-hinterland transport and logistics: emerging trends and frontier research," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(1), pages 1-25, March.
    13. Julie Dekker & Tim Hasso, 2016. "Environmental Performance Focus in Private Family Firms: The Role of Social Embeddedness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 293-309, June.
    14. Zhang, Qiang & Zheng, Shiyuan & Geerlings, Harry & El Makhloufi, Abdel, 2019. "Port governance revisited: How to govern and for what purpose?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 46-57.
    15. Marion Magnan & Martijn Horst, 2020. "Involvement of port authorities in inland logistics markets: the cases of Rotterdam, Le Havre and Marseille," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(1), pages 102-123, March.
    16. Runhui Lin & Yuan Gui & Zaiyang Xie & Lu Liu, 2019. "Green Governance and International Business Strategies of Emerging Economies’ Multinational Enterprises: A Multiple-Case Study of Chinese Firms in Pollution-Intensive Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-32, February.
    17. Julia Hamprecht & Jan Schwarzkopf, 2014. "Subsidiary Initiatives in the Institutional Environment," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(5), pages 757-778, October.
    18. Schrettle, Stefan & Hinz, Andreas & Scherrer -Rathje, Maike & Friedli, Thomas, 2014. "Turning sustainability into action: Explaining firms' sustainability efforts and their impact on firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(PA), pages 73-84.
    19. Valenza, Giuseppe & Damiano, Rodolfo, 2023. "Sustainability reporting and public value: Evidence from port authorities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    20. Juliane Peters & Ana Simaens, 2020. "Integrating Sustainability into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of the Textile and Clothing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-35, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2543-:d:506475. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.