This thesis aims to develop and validate the dimensions of supply chain collaboration and collaborative advantage in the containerised maritime industry and explores the impact of supply chain collaboration on collaborative advantage and port performance. Additionally, this thesis tests a mediation effect of collaborative advantage on the relationship between supply chain collaboration and port performance. This thesis employs a quantitative method. A theoretical model is built based on thorough literature reviews of supply chain management and maritime studies, in-depth discussions with experts, item review and Q-sorting techniques to signify ambiguity or misunderstanding with the scales and to suggest modifications. The proposed model is empirically tested with survey data using 178 responses from terminal operators, shipping lines, inland transport companies, freight forwarders, ship management companies and third-party logistics providers involved in maritime logistics in the major containers ports of Busan, Gwangyang and Incheon for a comprehensive and balanced view by using structural equation modelling. With regard to the findings of the empirical research, three main constructs were successfully validated as multi-dimensional constructs. The structural paths support hypotheses that supply chain collaboration has a positive influence on collaborative advantage, and collaborative advantage has a strong contribution to port performance. However, the direct impact of supply chain collaboration on port performance is insignificant. A hierarchical approach of the mediation test and bootstrapping test found that the association between supply chain collaboration and port performance is fully mediated by collaborative advantage. In other words, the greater degree of supply chain collaboration between the port and port user enables them to gain a higher degree of collaborative advantage, and, in turn, this collaborative advantage can contribute to augmenting port performance. This thesis synthesises transaction cost theory, resource based theory and a relational view to explain how supply chain collaboration influences collaborative advantage and port performance. Its theoretical contribution expands the concept of supply chain collaboration and collaborative advantage into containerised maritime contexts, capturing the perspective of the ports and port users. Further, despite numerous maritime studies which extol the importance of collaboration between the ports and port users, no systematic approach has previously developed and validated those constructs and relationships. The various maritime logistics organisations would benefit from applying the results of this study to their supply chain collaboration practices when seeking greater collaborative advantage. The results heed practitioners in containerised maritime logistics organisations to focus on balancing the facets of supply chain collaboration to transport flows of containers seamlessly and efficiently from door-to-door, as supply chain management philosophy drives the maritime logistics industry to become more integrated into shippers' supply chains.

Problem of the Study: Non-traditional, value-added coconut products, such as Virgin Coconut Oil, Coco Water and Coco Sugar, have increased tremendously the last few years and the end-consumer pay a high price in retail for these considered luxury products. However, there is no abundance or indulgence in the life of the farmers and small producers in the Philippines at the other end of this global billion-dollar industry. Purpose of the Thesis: The purpose of this study is to describe, analyse and define the export network, and the roles of the actors, of the value-added coconut products in the Philippines as well as locate the origin of the single or combined problems that have led to struggling industry suppliers, and through that identify possible solutions which can increase the economic viability of the suppliers. Methodology: This study has been conducted as a case study, where the empirical findings was collected during an 8 weeks long field trip to the Philippines. A qualitative approach was adapted in order to create a deeper understanding of the problem and abduction made this possible. Six semi-structured interviews and one in-depth interview were executed. The majority of the data was collected through these interviews, although participating observation was also an important source of information along with secondary data. The validity and reliability has been secured by carefully explaining the methodology of the study, interviewing several different actors, following a interview guide and by separately interpreting the the primary data before comparing them with each other. Conclusions: The study showed that the Philippine coconut industry network is far from centreless. The government and MNCs play the biggest roles in the network, meanwhile the farmers and small producers have a very small part in the export activities of value-added coconut products. In order for the existing inequalities within the network, in both influence and profit shares, to be resolved farmers and small producers need increased support to be able to engage in value-added production, reach collaborative advantage and get access to direct export channels.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the collaboration between the Swedish Public Em-ployment Service and the municipalities in southern Halland (Falkenberg, Halmstad, Hylte, Laholm) based on Huxham and Vangen's theory of the benefits of collaboration, "Theory Of Collaborative Advantage". The theory is suitable for studies of organizations and is based on the fact that there are different incentives or motives for starting a collaboration. The various motives give collaboration the prerequisite for success. In addition to the motives for collabo-ration, it is required that the partens who collaborate meet some of the criteria that Huxham and Vangen call the seven different perspectives. The authors believe that collaboration is difficult and very complex, but by analyzing which points work in collaboration, the chance of achieving the common goal is greater. By analyzing the collaboration between the Swedish Public Em-ployment Service and the municipalities in southern Halland with Huxham and Vangen's theory about the benefits of collaboration, it emerges that through local agreements there is a function-ing collaboration. On the other hand, it turns out that in the operational part of collaboration for those who are far from the labor market and receive financial assistance, there is still difficulty in making collaboration work optimally, and this is due to poor communication between the officials who work directly with decisions and planning for that group.

The fashion industry is ranked as the fourth most environmentally harmful industries in the world. A main cause being the overruling destructive model of take-make-dispose that maintains our reliance on virgin materials. Academia and European Union policymakers believe the Circular Economy is a more sustainable alternative to this linear model. The transition to a Circular Economy requires collaboration between organisations across the value chain to close the loop. These organisations come together to share their capabilities forming circular ecosystems. However, key authors in the field warn that collaboration is difficult and should only be entered with an intention to actively manage it. In this study we therefore set out to understand collaboration in these ecosystems of organisations in the fashion and textiles industry. To fulfil the aim of our research, we conducted a qualitative study following an interpretative approach, focusing in on a pioneering case study from the industry. The New Cotton Project is a 3-year EU-funded project forming a circular model for commercial garment production. Using the Theory of Collaborative Advantage as a theoretical lens, we came to understand that collaboration in these ecosystems in the fashion and textiles industry is complex and challenging, yet it is optimistic and hopeful as partners try to overcome issues stemming from the pre-existing linear model. We also argue that collaboration that leads to collaborative advantage in these ecosystems is not a result of serendipity but of innovators, organisations and policymakers coming together to transition the industry.