Affärsstrategisk analys av tanksjöfartsföretag: en studie av samband mellan affärsförutsättningar, affärsstrategi och affärsresultat

Doctoral thesis, 2014

Shipping is a particularly competitive industry where external factors can strongly affect business strategies. The relationship is illust rated in this study through the development and empirical application of a strategic an alysis model in a multiple case study where tanker shipping companies Broström, Laurin a nd Sirius are included. The empirical data from the multiple case study is the basis for the identification and modelling of successful business strategies of the companies. The study has developed a model that shows th e relationship between the external factors and strategic management. Companies cannot aff ect most external factors, so companies must relate to them through strategic fit. Stra tegic fit is central to competitiveness. By having multiple channels for gathering information, information about changing condi- tions could be collected in an early stage a nd contribute to a more comprehensive under- standing of exte rnal factors. The overall aim of this study is: "To develop a model for strategic analysis of tank ship owners’ business conditions, busin ess strategies and business pe rformances and their rela- tionship, and by using the anal ysis model empirically identi fy and model successful busi- ness strategies in the tanker sector." The multiple case study in combination with the analysis defines and compiles what the study identifies as the companies’ successful bu siness strategies. The theoretical approach to identify successful business strategies m eans that the company needs to identify oppor- tunities in the conditi ons and adapt and use resources in order to utilize the potentials. The study identifies and presents a successful business strategy for each company. The study concludes with a summary of three generic models of successful business strategies.