Interorganizational Relationships in Italian Logistic Platforms : The Role of Meta-Logistic Operators

The logistic system as an element giving a competitive advantage to individual organizations and business firm systems alike, is now becoming increasingly relevant (Håkansson e Persson, 2004). In particular, logistic platforms (in Italian, interporti) carry out a highly central role in the Italian economic system, in that apart from facilitating interconnections between various transport modalities, also facilitate the role of ports as links joining up overland routes with sea routes (Boscacci F., 2003).Many logistic studies, and more generally studies relating to supply chain management adopt a systems-type perspective, in which continuous interaction takes place between actors and activities characterizing the system and bringing about its success. In this sense, as Christopher claims (1992), “real competition is not [any more] company against company but rather supply chain against supply chain” (p.14).The aim of the paper is analysing the activities carried out within the logistic platforms infrastructures, amongst which a leading role is played by a certain special typology of actor, defined as Meta-Logistic Operators (MLOs)