Source: adapted from Brooks M.R. and Pallis A.A. (2008). Assessing port governance models: Process and performance components. Maritime Policy and Management, 35(4), 411-432.
Port governance reform is a complex process that unfolds and is adjusted over time. Relevant policy actors decide to initiate change in the light of a specific economic environment, having a vision of (or objective for) what they would like to see as port performance output. Implementing authorities take actions to develop goals and targets and implement systems and processes that effectively execute these decisions. Changes are accompanied by transition times and might be affected by several variables. Within the port reform process, port governance decisions (i.e. strategies and structures of the ports) are the inputs. The aim is to adjust the structures of port governance, and the strategies of the ports in a way that the resulting configuration of the economic environment-strategy-structure framework will produce the best output, as embodied within the performance of the port.
Intentions and desired goals might not result in respective actions. Either because of flaws in the decisions taken or because of flaws in implementing appropriate decisions, inconsistent governance frameworks might produce performance deficiencies. Thus, by linking port governance and performance, an assessment of the output of governance follows the initiation of any change, with the conclusions derived from this assessment, along with the contextual environment, both providing the background for the initiation of further changes aiming to adjust minimally, or comprehensively reform, the specifics of the governance model in place.