Step 1: Identifying external factors (cf. chapter 3.2)
In the first step the relevant external factors were identified. This was done by the determination of the relevant PESTLE factors in chapter 3. These have been additionally validated by means of the results from the questionnaire to stakeholders.
Step 2: Assessing the impact level and uncertainty of external factors
In the second step the impact and uncertainty of each external factor was assessed by experts of the consortium. Bearing in mind the questionnaires' results, a two axis diagram was developed, where the horizontal axis indicates the level (low to high) of impact of the external factor on the logistic sector. The vertical axis indicates the external factors’ future development (un)certainty. The more unlikely the occurrence of the external factor, the higher the factor has been placed in the diagram.
The allocation of external factors was conducted by experts of the Lot 1 consortium by means of an internal interactive workshop. Wherever possible, the allocation and assessment of external factors according to their relevance for the logistics sector as well as their level of certainty, was amended by questionnaire findings.
The factors in the right top corner of the diagram became the leading factors in the second step, because these are assessed to have the largest impact on the logistics sector while their occurrence is uncertain and hence their occurrence or non-occurrence will be the main cause of different developments of the market (different scenarios). By picking these factors the ‘extremes’ can be formulated. The following figure shows the output of step 2.
Figure 3.12 Allocation of external factors– Assessment of impact and uncertainty