Justifying an application of the explanatory sequential mixed methods research design in maritime research

ABSTRACT

Despite the efficacy of the mixed methods research design, there appears to be a need for more application in the maritime theme areas. This paper demonstrates the use of explanatory sequential mixed methods research (MMR) design in investigating the retention of ship officers. Previous studies often relied on the lopsided viewpoint of industry employers (using qualitative-oriented mono-methods) without capturing the employee side of the discourse. A web-based survey of 305 ship officers and a semi-structured telephone interview with 20 senior managers helped identify factors predicting the departure of ship officers to landside jobs. A long period of separation from family is a vital issue. Analysis of the interview transcripts helped explain the survey results. Sustainable HR practices are needed among shipping industry employers. Many respondents indicated that personal reasons accounted for the departure to landside jobs. The lack of support from employers during times of crisis compounds a high turnover conundrum among highly skilled ship officers. Shipping industry employers need to dedicate more resources to seafarer training even as the emergence of new technologies on board ships is placing existing skills out of fashion.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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Notes on contributors

Livingstone Divine Caesar

Dr. Livingstone Caesar is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at Texas A&M University in Galveston. He works with the Maritime Business Administration Department, lecturing in Business Statistics, Maritime Business Analytics, Maritime Economics and Research Methods. Before joining the Texas A&M University at Galveston in October 2021, Dr Caesar was an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the S.B.S. Swiss Business School (Zurich) for four years. During that time, he was also the Director of the Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) and Doctor of Business Leadership (D.B.L.) Programs. He helped design and accredited the Ph.D. in Business Administration program. Dr Caesar also worked briefly as a Consultant Research Scientist on European Union grant projects at Ghana's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Dr Caesar holds a PhD in Management and Commerce from the University of Tasmania (specifically the Australian Maritime College), Australia. His PhD work focused on the human capital issues within the global maritime industry. He is a member of the Decision Science Institute (DSI) and the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME). Dr Caesar's research interests include human capital issues, as well as applying big data and machine learning techniques to maritime business and transport issues. Dr Caesar sings and plays musical instruments.