Servitization as a competitive difference in humanitarian logistics

Humanitarian supply chains and innovation: a focus on US food banks

Purpose

To effectively meet their social objectives, humanitarian organizations need to be more innovative and find novel ways to stay competitive. Yet there has been limited focus on innovation by humanitarian organizations. Part of the issue is the lack of new practices and novel approaches that can be used as benchmarks. This study focuses on food banks, a critical hub for the delivery of food in humanitarian supply chains and where the use of innovation seems to be more reported on.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on resource scarcity, a commonly referenced constraint by humanitarian organizations, the authors study how food and fund scarcity (versus abundance) influence the innovation efforts of twelve food banks in the United States. This study observes variations in behavior before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Findings

The authors find that food banks operating in high resource scarcity (food-scarce and fund-scarce) settings focus on process innovations. Food banks operating in low resource scarcity (food-abundant and fund-abundant) settings focus on product innovations. Food banks operating in food-abundant and fund-scarce settings focus on marketing innovations. Food banks operating in food-scarce and fund-abundant settings show the most extensive focus on innovation by relying on imitative innovations. The innovation focus for most food banks switches to process innovation during the COVID pandemic.

Originality/value

The study breaks down resource scarcity specific to food banks by differentiating food and funds, a novel approach to studying scarcity. Findings are novel as they suggest that operating context has a highly differentiating effect on what food banks focus on in terms of innovation. Operating context can lead to focus on process, product, imitative of market-related innovations. Finally, the study is novel because it explores how change in the environmental context due to disruptions can drastically modify the innovation focus of food banks.

Cash and voucher assistance along humanitarian supply chains: a literature review and directions for future research

This study reviews research on cash and voucher assistance (CVA) by applying a humanitarian supply chain management perspective. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify, analyse, and synthesise past academic research. The content, context, and process framework was used to structure the content analysis. The findings reveal that the outcomes of CVA programmes are dependent on critical context-specific variables that influence feasibility and operability. Humanitarian actors must consider factors that are external (the nature of disaster, politics, economy, and infrastructure) and internal (local market availability and accessibility, supplier/donor interest, supplier/vendor selection and contracting, and beneficiary preference) to the supply chain. The delivery process is influenced by them, impacting on programme responsiveness and cost-efficiency. The results provide insights that humanitarian practitioners can utilise to reconsider their supply chain strategies when deciding on the selection and implementation of CVA programmes. Potential literature gaps are identified, and recommendations for further research are provided.

Assessment of challenges and problems in supply chain among retailers during COVID-19 epidemic through AHP-TOPSIS hybrid MCDM technique

Framework and objectives

COVID-19 epidemic has sparked concern and has elevated the need for therapeutic tools, health equipment's, and day-to-day necessities for healthcare workers' well-being. The goal of this study is to uncover the operational problems that suppliers encounter when it comes to offering effective services. The research also intends to offer an Industry 4.0 strategy for reducing COVID-19's effect. The problems are weighed and priority is assigned by multi-criteria decision making to identify the most essential parameter which impacts the suppliers.

Methods

A comprehensive literature assessment on the rampant eruption of COVID 19 and supply chain is conducted with the aid of literatures available on SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Google Scholar using appropriate keywords. To get further insights, certain pertinent and applicable industry reports and blogs are also used. Problems were analysed with AHP method and priority was assigned by technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Weights are calculated by AHP method and assigned to each criteria attribute.

Results

We recognized eleven key problems that serve as an operational obstacle in the retail industry and proposed the use of Industry 4.0 technology to address them. The contemporary study is accomplished by using hybrid combination of two Multi Criteria Estimators methods- Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Further, the most significant problem comes out to be Maintenance of an appropriate balance among supply and demand followed by Lack of Viability.

Key findings

Prioritization of supply chain problems are arranged in descending order Maintenance of an appropriate balance among supply and demand ​> ​Lack of Viability ​> ​Absence of government funding ​> ​Lack of access ​> ​Absence of Confidence ​> ​Scarcity of work force ​> ​Lack of security and safety ​> ​Deficiency of surplus medical amenities ​> ​Consumer attitude ​> Absence of Supply Chain flexibility ​> ​Communication problems.

Conclusion

In order to combat the pandemic, Industry 4.0 can play a key role in lowering the effect of identified issues on retailers. For the successful administration of healthcare basics, trust and openness are required. To enhance services, suppliers, distributors and policy makers should make informed decisions during COVID-19 and other comparable events. Therefore, suggested guidelines and framework will offer upcoming directions for research in fields of pandemic check, business logistics management, and catastrophe administration. Balance in supply and demand is the most significant attribute as its percentage contribution is the maximum (27.52%) followed by Safety of employees (26.51%). Furthermore, the research then ranks these models on the basis of their attributes with the aid of TOPSIS. Among all these problems, Maintenance of an appropriate balance among supply and demand and lack of viability are identified as the prime most and common concern for retailers in supply chain management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring and establishing the barriers to sustainable humanitarian supply chains using fuzzy interpretive structural modeling and fuzzy MICMAC analysis

Purpose

The continual onset of natural and manmade disasters propels the humanitarian supply chain (HSC) efforts (by organizations, groups and individuals) to always be on a stand-by mode with more and more sustainable solutions. Despite all the sincere and coordinated efforts from all the humanitarian agents and bodies, the likely sustainable outputs are hampered by certain barriers (impediments) which exist at different levels of the HSCs. A better understanding of such barriers and their mutual relationship is deemed helpful in improving the outcomes of humanitarian efforts. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore, refine, establish and classify these barriers which thwart the sustainable efforts of the HSCs individually as well as collectively.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review is conducted to identify these barriers which were followed by soliciting the experts’ inputs to update, refine and retain the contextually relevant ones. The opinions about the nine identified and refined barriers are taken from eight experts based in the Northern India who are having at least five years of experience in humanitarian operations. Fuzzy interpretive structural modeling (FISM) is used to examine and establish a hierarchical relationship among these barriers, whereas fuzzy Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment analysis is carried out to further classify these barriers into dependent, autonomous, linkage and dependent barriers.

Findings

The analysis led to the formation of a FISM model where the operational challenges affecting the performance occupy the topmost position in the hierarchy. The results reveal that inconsistent motives, coordination and communication and operational challenges affecting the performance are the dependent, poor strategic planning, capacity-related challenges and poor performance measurement system are the autonomous, and financial challenges, locational challenges and lack of proper awareness are the independent barriers.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of the researchers was to study and examine these barriers to sustainable HSCs with special reference to the epidemics and pandemics (especially COVID-19), and it sheds light particularly arising during and post disaster phases.

Practical implications

The structural model contributed by this study is expected to be meaningful for practitioners besides enriching the body of literature. In the context of pandemics, it distinguishes itself from the other available frameworks.

Social implications

As this research has been carried out in the context of the novel COVID-19, the framework is expected to assist policymakers in comprehending the issues impeding the sustainability of noble humanitarian efforts. Thus, ultimately it is expected to contribute to the ultimate cause of society at large.

Originality/value

This research endeavor distinguishes itself from the other accessible published resources in terms of the specific context, the methodological approach and the nature of respondents. This paper concludes with the practical implications and directions for future research.

Coordination at the 10-year mark of the JHLSCM–from global response to local preparedness

Purpose

At the inception of the Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management (JHLSCM), logistics coordination was identified as important, both in practice and research, but few studies on the topic had been published. Ten years later, many, if not most, papers in the journal mention the topic. So the picture has changed, but to what extent? This paper discusses how coordination research has followed humanitarian logistics practice and vice versa.

Design/methodology/approach

The point of departure in the present article is the most salient topic from the study’s original papers (Jahre et al., 2009; Jahre and Jensen, 2010). The authors discuss how these topics have developed in research and practice. A recent literature review (Grange et al., 2020) enables us to pick relevant papers from JHLSCM and supplement them with more recent ones. The authors complement this approach with updated data on the cluster system, particularly the logistics cluster, to add insights from the empirical domain.

Findings

In practice, the cluster concept has developed from coordination within clusters in response to the inclusion of inter-cluster coordination in preparedness, and more recently a focus on localized preparedness. However, JHLSCM research does not appear to have kept pace, with a few notable exceptions. The majority of its papers still focus on response. To the extent that preparedness is covered, it is primarily done so at the global level.

Originality/value

The authors use a framework to discuss humanitarian logistics coordination research and identify important gaps. Based on developments in practice, the study’s key contribution is a revised model with suggestions for further research.

A transformative supply chain response to COVID-19

Purpose

This research employs a transformative service lens to examine the role of the supply chain ecosystem in ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers as a well-being outcome during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper examining the response of the supply chain to the current food crisis caused by the pandemic.

Findings

Based on the service-dominant logic (SDL) paradigm, the COVID-19 examination of the supply chain ecosystem provides a foundation for further research employing a transformative lens.

Research limitations/implications

The COVID-19 situation is primarily explored from a Western, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic (WEIRD) societies’ context. Future research should explore the applicability of the transformative service lens to other societies.

Practical implications

The conceptual discussion and research agenda provide direction for researchers, practitioners and policymakers towards a transformative supply chain ecosystem.

Originality/value

This research includes the well-being of employees and customers in the service supply chain outcome measures, draws supply chain management into the TSR domain, while also solidifies a service ecosystem perspective of supply chain management.

Outsourcing in humanitarian logistics – status quo and future directions

Purpose

Outsourcing of logistics has great importance in disaster relief. Aid agencies spend several billion US dollars every year on logistics services. However, the concept of outsourcing has not been established adequately in literature on humanitarian logistics, leading to a fragmented view of the practice. This paper provides a holistic perspective of the concept by constructing a conceptual framework to analyze both practice and research of outsourcing in humanitarian operations. Based on this analysis, we explore future trends and identify research gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a structured review of academic literature, a two-round Delphi study with 31 experts from aid agencies and a complementary full-day focus group with twelve experts from aid agencies and logistics service providers.

Findings

The paper systemizes the current practice of outsourcing in humanitarian logistics according to a conceptual framework of five dimensions: subject, object, partner, design and context. In addition, it reveals ten probable developments of the practice over the next years. Finally, it describes eight important research gaps and presents a research agenda for the field.

Research limitations/implications

The literature review considered peer-reviewed academic papers. Practitioner papers could provide additional insights into the practice. Moreover, the Delphi study focused on the perspective of aid agencies. Capturing the views of logistics service providers in more detail would be a valuable addition.

Originality/value

The paper establishes the academic basis for the important practice of outsourcing in humanitarian logistics. It highlights essential research gaps and, thereby, opens up the field for future research.

Lean readiness assessment model – a tool for Humanitarian Organizations' social and economic sustainability

Purpose

purpose of this study is to present a Lean Readiness Assessment Model (LRAM) for assessing the readiness of Humanitarian Organizations (HO) for adopting Lean Management (LM) (Johanson et al.) practices. Literature reveals that implementation of LM itself is a cost and most organizations have failed to adopt LM techniques due to a non-readiness status and a non-supportive organizational culture. This situation indicates that the assessment of organizations' readiness before implementation of lean techniques is necessary.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an empirical quantitative study. Based on a synthesis of the literature, a conceptual model was developed by identifying seven critical success factors (CSFs). The CSFs were validated by HO professionals via a questionnaire-based survey. The data from the responses were analysed by applying partial least square structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using the SmartPLS3 software.

Findings

A proven LRAM was constructed that consists of CSFs (independent and mediating variables), which have reflected positive coefficients and significant t >1.96 and p < 0.05 values. The CSFs that are significant include process management, planning and control management, customer relationship management, human resource management, communication and coordination management and a positive organizational culture. The CSFs of supplier relationship and top management and leadership had insignificant t and p values and were dropped from the final LRAM.

Originality/value

This is a unique and rare study in its nature which developed LRAM for HO sector. The contribution of this model is to improve the efficiency and sustainability (economic and social aspects) of an HO under scarce resource conditions.

Coordination to choreography: the evolution of humanitarian supply chains

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify how coordination has evolved in humanitarian logistics (HL), what were the triggers for change and how have they been facilitated.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies a systematic literature review of academic journals.

Findings

This is the first paper to discuss the concepts of network orchestration and choreography in a humanitarian context. The research revealed that network coordination has moved on in the commercial sector to include orchestration and now, choreography concepts which have not been tested in HL literature. This reveals a lag exists between HL research and practice.

Research limitations/implications

This paper represents an exploratory study and provides the basis for further research on the concepts of orchestration and choreography in HL. The paper sets a research agenda for academics.

Practical implications

This paper is the first to discuss the concepts of network orchestration and choreography in a humanitarian context.

Originality/value

The areas of orchestration and choreography have received limited consideration within the humanitarian aid logistics literature to date. This paper is designed to redress this shortfall. As a result, it is hoped that it will act as a catalyst for further research and to widen and deepen the resultant debate with a view to improving the outcome for those affected by current and future disasters.

Toward a conceptualization of humanitarian service providers

Purpose

Service development and outsourcing are growing trends in humanitarian logistics (HL). Humanitarian organizations (HOs) have developed specialized units to perform logistics activities on behalf of other aid organizations, as a commercial logistics service provider (LSP) would do. The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of HOs acting as LSPs and the differences with their commercial counterparts.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a two-level content analysis of 149 annual reports from 50 local and international HOs, performed with the help of qualitative data analysis software. First, a manifest content analysis identified the number of occurrences of logistics-related words and later, a latent content analysis studies the use in context of such words to characterize the nature of HOs as LSPs.

Findings

Evidence shows that some international HOs – in some cases through specialized logistics units – perform the same activities as commercial LSPs, providing similar services. However, due to the characteristics of the humanitarian context, HOs acting as LSPs can offer a wider range of value-added and dedicated services to clients (other HOs) than commercial LSPs.

Research limitations/implications

Exploring the activities performed by HOs on behalf of other aid organizations and characterizing them as service providers constitutes a first attempt to grasp the unique features of these particular humanitarian LSPs. The results open the discussion about the services HOs offer, thus contributing to theory development in HL.

Practical implications

The identification of HOs acting as LSPs introduces a new actor to the humanitarian network, which the authors refer to as humanitarian service provider (HSP). This supposes two main managerial implications. First, the results support the idea of seeing servitization as a competitive difference, having a substantial impact on the way HOs build their strategies and achieve competitive advantage. Second, HSPs can push their commercial equivalents to identify new activities or services to offer and maintain their competitive advantage with regard to the newcomers.

Originality/value

This paper furthers the discussion on the concept of HSPs and demonstrates its uniqueness, thus contributing to the ever-growing body of knowledge of HL research.