본 연구는 컨테이너터미널의 서비스품질 주요차원을 확인하고 이에 대한 측정도구를 개발하는 것을 주요 목적으로 하며, ‘항만입지’와 ‘고객규모’에 따라서 컨테이너항만의 터미널 서비스품질차원들이 고객의 만족과 충성도 및 구전의도에 차별적인 영향을 미치는 지를 파악하고자 했다. 실증결과 본 연구에 사용된 측정도구가 ‘내적품질’, ‘외적환경품질’, ‘상호작용품질’로 구분됨을 확인하였다. 그리고 신뢰성 검증을 통해 연구모형에 포함된 요인들을 구성하는 항목들의 요인별 내적일관성이 있음을 알 수 있었다. ‘항만입지’와 ‘고객규모’의 조절적 효과를 검증한 결과, 첫째, 인천항과 부산항의 경우 ‘상호작용품질’을 통한 차별화전략의 수립과 실행이 주요하게 부각되어야 하는 것으로 실증되었다. 반면 항만물동량, 배후단지 및 FTZ 규모 등 ‘외적환경품질’에 대한 시급한 보완대책 또한 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 특히 인천항은 지금처럼 부족한 터미널 시설을 시급하게 개선해야 하는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 인천항은 터미널 서비스품질차원 모두 및 고객만족도에서 부산항에 크게 못 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 특히 고객만족에 ‘외적환경품질’이 유의한 영향을 미치지 못하였으며 ‘내적품질’도 매우 미흡하게 평가받고 있어 이에 대한 시급한 대책을 강구해야 할 것이다. 본 연구는 기존 연구에서 주목받지 못했던 컨테이너 터미널의 서비스 품질과 고객만족도 및 충성도간의 인과관계를 실증 분석했다는 점에서 그 의의를 찾을 수 있다. 결론부문에서는 본 연구결과가 가지는 학문적 의의 및 물류산업에의 전략적 시사점을 논의하고, 각 항만 터미널의 구체적이고 특수한 서비스품질수준의 확인과 본 연구결과의 외적 타당성에 대한 추가적 검증 등을 미래연구로 제안하였다.
Logistics service is one of the most frequently addressed competitive edge exercised by companies who face intense competition in the market. This study focused on the logistics service quality of container terminals because of its increased importance in multinational trade; Over 80% of the whole international trade involves seaports, and over 30% of the total container freight is incurred by container terminals. In this regard, this study developed a service quality measurement for container terminals, which has not been adequately dealt in the context of logistics industry. Based on the review of the existing studies, this study built the conceptual framework describing the relationships among container terminal service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and WOM intention. In specific, the positive relationships between container terminal service quality and customer satisfaction, between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, between customer loyalty and WOM intention, and between customer satisfaction and WOM intention were hypothesized. In addition, port location and customer size were hypothesized as moderators in those relationships. Even though the users of those ports could be expanded to manufacturers and freight forwarders, this study defined the sample as shipping companies using two ports; Incheon and Busan, so that the sample could be more homogeneous. Total 300 questionnairs were distributed and 240 were returned (80% of response rate), and after a careful screening process, 215 samples were achieved for further analysis. In terms of testing the relationships among container terminal service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and WOM intention, the overall model fit was acceptable. Specifically, container terminal service quality dimensions were identified as having positive effect on customer satisfaction, except for “internal quality.” This implies that customers might take “internal quality” of the container terminals for granted, and “internal quality” might not be able to create competitive advantage anymore. The hypothesized positive relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, between customer satisfaction and WOM intention, and between customer loyalty and WOM intention were all supported. This suggests that “external quality” and “interactive quality” significantly lead positive WOM via customer satisfaction and loyalty. The relationships were compared between Incheon and Busan (port location), and between companies dealing with large sized customers and companies with small-medium sized customers (customer size). All models for each case were acceptable in terms of model fit. The specific findings of testing the moderator effects of port location and customer size are as follows; First, in case of the port location, the result shows that the relative importance of service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction was in the order of interactive quality > internal quality > external quality for both ports, but external quality was significant only in Busan. Secondly, it is found that customer size significantly moderate the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction. For shipping companies with large customers, interactive quality was the most influential quality dimension on customer satisfaction, whereas external quality was the most significant dimension for shipping companies with small-medium sized customers. This implies that the segments of shipping companies based on customer size are fairly distinctive. In turn, there seems to be a need for customized service package for each segment. This study was trying to apply the results from existing service quality studies to container terminal service quality area. Therefore, terminal service quality dimensions and measurements were developed and tested empirically. However, in this preliminary stage, this study acknowledges several limitations and directions for fu