HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT-A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Background: A common goal of Humanitarian Organizations (HO’s) is to deliver the services to humanity in a spirit of impartiality and neutrality without any discrimination. HOs primary functions are remained to deal with disasters, to protect human rights, to provide relief services and promote the universal desire for personal and collective safety, security, respect, and dignity without any view to profit. Logistics and supply chain management operations of HO are known as most expensive part and required sustainable solutions. HOs must utilize their funds effectively and efficiently. In this study we reviewed previous studies and identified areas needing further improvements in Humanitarian Organizations Logistics and Supply Chain Management (HO-LSCM) system.

Methods: Focusing on HO effectiveness and efficiency, this study identified and categorised the HO-LSCM articles into five broad areas: the concept of HO-LSCM, challenges and issues in HO-LSCM, HO performance management, HO effectiveness and efficiency management, types of research and research methodologies adopted in that research. Based on these categories the notable gaps in the existing studies were identified and recommendations for future research suggested.

Results: Existing studies are focused on Effectiveness, applying organizational agility in management, while Efficiency in management, under the heading of Lean Management, is an underdeveloped area which needs further extension to better serve the maximum number in society. Notably, 94% of HO-LSCM studies are based on qualitative research and most of them developed theoretical frameworks which have not been tested and adopted widely. In management of humanitarian organizations logistics and supply chain operations, every HO has varied policies and procedures, thus, standardization is required to streamline the effectiveness and efficiency in logistics and supply chain functions.

Conclusion: This qualitative research study is the first that has reviewed the field of HO-LSCM in terms of Efficiency and Effectiveness, and where prior studies have applied concepts of organizational agility and lean management. We have sought to extend this thinking in regard to Lean Management as it enhances Efficiency in management.