This research develops a conceptual model of freight modal choice in which the basic unit of analysis is the socio-organisational group. Research into freight modal choice at the level of the firm has tended to disregard the nature of human choice and to assume that modal choice can be explained in terms of technological phenomena or cost relationships. There is also a tendency to equate the modal choice of organisational members with the modal use of firms. The approach adopted in this work is to accept that there are different interest groups within shipper firms and that such groups may not necessarily form a consensus of opinion about freight model choice. It is assumed that different socia-organisational groups may form different implicit theories about transport systems. Such an approach is called the social perceptual approach. The conceptual modal is converted into an operational model and an empirical investigation is undertaken into the area of modal choice between air freight transport end surface less than full load freight transport from the United Kingdom to Western Europe. In particular, the standpoint of shipping managers (managers responsible for arranging international freight transport in exporting companies) is examined vis-a-vis certain normative approaches such as the through transport concept.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:256382 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Creators | Gray, R. |
| Contributors | Christopher, Martin |
| Publisher | Cranfield University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/8651 |
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