Security, sustainability and supply chain collaboration in the humanitarian space

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Larson
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Supply Chain Design ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Aid Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Relationships ◽  
Humanitarian Space ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain

PurposeTo extend humanitarian supply chain relationships beyond logistics concerns of delivery, quality and cost. As humanitarian actors continue to face increasing numbers of natural disasters, armed conflicts and attacks on aid workers, security (risk) and sustainability are issues of growing importance. Aiming to inspire discussion, the paper concludes with a research agenda.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper inspired by relevant statistics, news reports and academic literature.FindingsWorldwide natural disasters and armed conflicts are on the rise. So are deliberate attacks on aid workers. Thus, humanitarian supply chain design must include considerations of security and sustainability. Agencies have several options for integrating matters of security and sustainability with the delivery of aid, from being reactive to creating internal solutions to forming proactive relationships with security and sustainability experts.Research limitations/implicationsThere are numerous opportunities for research in the areas of security, sustainability and supply chain relationships.Practical implicationsThrough advocacy and supply chain relationships, humanitarian agencies can enhance security for aid workers and civilians affected by conflict and disasters. Looking to the future, they can also make a positive difference on issues of sustainability.Social implicationsThere is an opportunity to enlarge the “humanitarian space” – and increase security for aid workers and civilians, especially in areas of armed conflict. In the long term, aid agencies can also help eliminate social problems such as gender inequality.Originality/valueThis appears to be among the first papers to discuss matters of security and sustainability in the context of humanitarian supply chain collaboration.

The potential role of philanthropy in humanitarian supply chains delivery: the case of Thailand

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Banomyong ◽  
Puthipong Julagasigorn
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Multinational Firm ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chains ◽  
Strategic Philanthropy ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework on how strategic philanthropy can be included in humanitarian supply chains delivery. This framework explains the modalities where strategic philanthropy can be successful when collaborating with key humanitarian supply chain actors. Design/methodology/approach A philanthropy delivery framework is developed based on the literature related to strategic philanthropy and humanitarian supply chains. The delivery framework is further validated with the real-life case study of a multinational firm during the 2011 Thai floods. Findings Procter and Gamble (P&G) was involved in the Thailand flood 2011 relief efforts in three phases: preparation, immediate response, and reconstruction phase. The company supported and distributed a water purifier through a non-governmental relief agency, the Princess Pa Foundation, under the Thai Red Cross Society, that enabled P&G to not only gain the trust of the targeted community during all the phases but in the continued usage of their water purifier after the event. Community leaders and P&G’s modern trade retailers played an important role in collaborating in this humanitarian supply chain to enable the successful delivery and usage of the donated water purifier. Research limitations/implications This proposed delivery framework is appropriate for in-kind products and services philanthropy. The case study describes how strategic philanthropy can be implemented in a specific case, i.e. flood disaster. Practical implications Academia, practitioners, and companies who are involved in humanitarian reliefs may adopt and adapt this framework in order to enable a win-win situation for all stakeholders in the humanitarian supply chain. Originality/value The delivery framework suggests that firms can develop successful strategic philanthropy through systematic humanitarian supply chain collaboration. It explains how a company can operate its philanthropic programs through collaboration with others as well as describes how these different actors can work together.

scholarly journals Perspectives on sustainability in humanitarian supply chains

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira Haavisto ◽  
Gyöngyi Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Aid Effectiveness ◽  
Supply Chain Design ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chains ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain ◽  
Societal Expectations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for analysing how humanitarian organisations (HOs) address different expectations regarding sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative and qualitative content analysis is used to assess the annual reports (ARs) of HOs for their discussions on sustainability overall, and in relation to contextual expectations, subsystems and supply chains, organisational structure and strategy. Findings – HOs address sustainability primarily from the perspective of contextual expectations from society and beneficiaries. Some fits between supply chain design and societal expectations are attended to, but fits between programmes and contextual expectations are not discussed explicitly. Research limitations/implications – ARs express what organisations want to portray of their activities rather than being direct reflections of what occurs in the field, hence the use of ARs for the study delimits its findings. However, HOs rarely publish sustainability reports. Practical implications – Even though there is a general pursuit of the elusive aim of aid effectiveness, organisational structures need to be further aligned with societal aims as to support these. Social implications – Beneficiaries are still seen as external to the humanitarian supply chain and humanitarian programmes, though their role may change with the introduction of more cash components in aid, voucher systems, and ultimately, their empowerment through these. Originality/value – The suggested conceptual framework combines elements of contingency theory with a prior four perspectives model on sustainability expectations. The framework helps to highlight fits between the humanitarian context, operations and programmes as well as misalignments between these.

An analysis of supply chain issues relating to information flow during the automotive product development

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1158-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Madenas ◽  
Ashutosh Tiwari ◽  
Christopher Turner ◽  
Sophie Peachey
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inadequate Information ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Number Of Customers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify measure and prioritise the perceived importance of supply chain issues within the automotive industry related to information flow during product development (PD). Design/methodology/approach – This study analyses empirical data captured from semi-structure interviews with 15 multinational companies operating in the automotive sector. Data collected are analysed using a standard methodology identified from the literature. The individual issues captured are classified against 14 clusters that represent the core and the fundamental supply chain issues of information flow. Findings – This study showed that half of the issues captured are related to the inadequate information systems used. The cluster that had the majority of individual issues is related to suppliers that are not directly connected with their customers through an enterprise system. However it was identified that two fundamental clusters justify the decision of not being directly connected. Implementing and maintaining multiple enterprise systems can be a big overhead for multinational companies working with a high number of customers. Originality/value – Although several studies have proved the benefits that can be obtained through supply chain collaboration, there are relatively little empirical studies that seek to explore the understanding of supply chain issues in regards to information flow especially during PD. By identifying, measuring and prioritising the importance of supply chain issues this study provides researchers and practitioners guidance in developing better tools and defining more efficient processes.

Exploring critical success factors (CSFs) of humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) in flood disaster management (FDM)

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Sakyi Damoah
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Flood Disaster ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Humanitarian Operations ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain

PurposeThis study explores the critical success factors (CSFs) in humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) by focussing on flood disaster management (FDM) in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth semi-structured interview and questionnaire surveys in a sequential data collection approach were used to collect data from definitive stakeholders of humanitarian organisations. The data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factors analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques.FindingsSeventy-four factors were identified as success factors of HSCM of flood disaster management. However, 41 of these factors were statistically significant and considered as critical. In descending order, these factors relate to management practices, education and training, stakeholder involvement and cooperation, infrastructure, innovation and technology, materials and resources, administrative practices, socio-cultural and economic. Whilst some factors are internal to the humanitarian organisations, others are external factors that are beyond the control of humanitarian organisations.Research limitations/implicationsEven though this study offers empirical results that could guide policymakers in their decision-making about humanitarian operations, care needs to be taken since the data is within one country and within a specific disaster context – hence, policymakers need to consider the local contextual dynamics. Future studies could look at different disasters context to make a comparative analysis of various types of disaster operations.Practical implicationsInstitutions such as World Health Organization, Red Cross organisations and UN seeking to curbs global-warming-related disasters and the reduction of the effects of flood disaster can use findings as a guide during the formulation of HSCM policies and strategies.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies of humanitarian operations that focussed extensively on theoretical expositions, simulations, conceptual frameworks and models, this present study offers empirical evidence of humanitarian operations in the context of SCM. Further, by highlighting on the HSCM CSFs, this study contributes to disaster reduction and their effects on humanity in the context of FDM. This research could be used as guide by governments and FDM organisations to make informed decisions on SCM areas to focus the most during FDM.

scholarly journals Supply Chain Resilience: Unleashing the Power of Collaboration in Disaster Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10573
Author(s):  
Muhammad Umar ◽  
Mark Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Multiple Case

This study builds on the extant literature of supply chain collaboration, specifically, vertical and horizontal collaboration, and examines how these capabilities influence the resilience of supply chains that experience regular natural disasters in rural communities, as their economic wellbeing relies heavily on the continuation of these supply chains. A multiple case study approach has been adopted to investigate the role of collaboration within food supply chains of two different South Asian regions. This context was selected because these regions are prone to regular natural disruptions, and these food supply chains also play a crucial role in the disaster relief process. The data revealed that effective communication, mutual dependence, information sharing, informal financial support, and trust are some of the components of supply chain collaboration that enhance the overall resilience of supply chains in natural disasters.

Sustainable supply chain collaboration: incentives in emerging economies

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nutcharee Pakdeechoho ◽  
Vatcharapol Sukhotu
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Food Manufacturing ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between sustainable supply chain collaboration (SSCC) and sustainability performance, and examine whether two types of incentives moderate this relationship. This empirical investigation of the Thai food manufacturing industry provides insight in the context of an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 215 food manufacturing firms in Thailand, and the hypotheses were tested by exploratory factor analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and cluster analysis. Findings The results indicate that SSCC leads to better economic and social performance, but not necessarily better environmental performance; incentives provided by firms in the supply chain enhance the effects of SSCC on social performance. Practical implications The findings provide useful suggestions for supply chain managers and policy makers about effective collaboration and the use of incentives to improve the sustainability of individual firms in the supply chain. They also reveal the challenges faced by manufacturing firms in improving environmental performance in an emerging economy. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on the implementation of sustainable supply chain management by explaining the role of incentives.

OCTO SCM: assessment of determinants of seaport logistics for the export supply chain of agricultural products

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Raj V. Amonkar ◽  
Tuhin Sengupta ◽  
Debasis Patnaik
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo Simulation ◽  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Supply Chain Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Focus Session ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Design Structure

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this paper are as follows: to understand the context of seaport logistics and supply chain design structure, to apply Monte Carlo simulation in the interface of the supply chain and to analyze the Monte Carlo simulation algorithm and statistical techniques for identifying the key seaport logistics factors. Case overview/synopsis It was 9:00 p.m. on November 10, 2020, and Nishadh Amonkar, the CEO of OCTO supply chain management (SCM) was glued to the television watching the final cricket match of the Indian Premier League, 2020. Amonkar’s mobile phone rang and it was a call from Vinod Nair, a member Logistics Panel of Ranji Industries Federation. Nair informed Amonkar that it was related to the rejection of several export consignments of agricultural products from Ranji (in the western part of India). The rejection was due to the deterioration in the quality of the exported agricultural products during transit from Ranji to various locations in Europe. Complexity academic level This course is suitable at the MBA level for the following courses: Operations research (Focus/Session: Applications on Monte Carlo Simulation). SCM (Focus/Session: Global SCM, Logistics Planning, Distribution Network). Logistics management (Focus/Session: Transportation Planning). Business statistics (Focus/Session: Application of Hypothesis Testing). Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and logistics.

Potentials of blockchain technologies for supply chain collaboration: a conceptual framework

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abderahman Rejeb ◽  
John G. Keogh ◽  
Steven J. Simske ◽  
Thomas Stafford ◽  
Horst Treiblmaier
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Information Sharing ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Goal Congruence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Narrative Literature Review ◽  
Key Dimensions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the potentials of blockchain technologies (BC) for supply chain collaboration (SCC).Design/methodology/approachBuilding on a narrative literature review and analysis of seminal SCC research, BC characteristics are integrated into a conceptual framework consisting of seven key dimensions: information sharing, resource sharing, decision synchronization, goal congruence, incentive alignment, collaborative communication and joint knowledge creation. The relevance of each category is briefly assessed.FindingsBC technologies can impact collaboration between transaction partners in modern supply chains (SCs) by streamlining information sharing processes, by supporting decision and reward models and by strengthening communicative relationships with SC partners. BC promises important future capabilities in SCs by facilitating auditability, improving accountability, enhancing data and information transparency and improving trust in B2B relationships. The technology also promises to strengthen collaboration and to overcome vulnerabilities related to moral hazard and shortcomings found in legacy technologies.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is mainly focused on the potentials of BC technologies on SCC as envisioned in the current academic literature. Hence, there is a need to validate the theoretical inferences with other approaches such as expert interviews and empirical tests. This study is of use to practitioners and decision-makers seeking to engage in BC-collaborative SC models.Originality/valueThe value of this paper lies in its call for an increased focus on the possibilities of BC technologies to support SCC. This study also contributes to the literature by filling the knowledge gap of how BC potentially impacts SC management.

scholarly journals Collaborative and sustainable supply chain practices: a case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
Rubén Medina-Serrano ◽  
Reyes Gonzalez ◽  
Jose Gasco ◽  
Juan Llopis
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Supply Chain Design ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Procurement ◽  
Consistent Manner ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore sustainability and collaboration in supply chain (SC) management designs and to develop a sustainable supply chain design (SCD) model. Design/methodology/approach First, a literature review of the principal theories and SC management approaches is discussed. Second, the development of a sustainable SCD model is described and explained. Third, the results and the operationalization of the model, which incorporates sustainable procurement elements based on the results of interviews from a case study, are outlined. Findings A framework is proposed to provide managers, practitioners and academics with a practical solution to make sustainable SC decisions in a more structured and consistent manner. Originality/value The paper presents a currently discussed problem about the design of differentiated supply chains to avoid or offset the effects of allocation issues in the electronic marketplace. Although past literature reviews provide valuable results, they were based upon the assessment of supply chain decisions failing to consider the sustainable corporate social responsibility and the interaction criteria. The findings from this study highlight the importance of addressing supply chain decisions in a structured manner and prioritize the development of dynamic capabilities to improve the firm’s ability to reconfigure internal and external competences to address rapidly changing environments and reinforce a collaborative SC management system with third parties.

Improving supply chain collaboration through operational excellence approaches: an IoT perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Cui ◽  
Meihua Gao ◽  
Jing Dai ◽  
Jian Mou
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Domain Model ◽  
Neutrosophic Set ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Operational Excellence

PurposeCollaboration is an important emerging dimension of sustainable supply chain management. How to improve supply chain collaboration (SCC) by means of operational excellence approaches has become an important research topic. The Internet of things (IoT), an important means of operational excellence, has also received increased attention. For better collaboration by the IoT, this study proposes a novel methodology to evaluate the measures of IoT adoption in SCC.Design/methodology/approachBased on the six-domain model and the common classification of collaboration, the measures of the IoT and the criteria of SCC are developed, respectively. A hybrid multi-step methodology that combines neutrosophic set theory, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technology for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) is proposed to complete the evaluation.FindingsThe results show that improving information transparency, strengthening the integration of management information systems and improving large data processing abilities are the most important measures of the IoT in improving SCC. Measures such as introducing sensing technology and laser scanning technology rank at the bottom and are relatively unimportant.Practical implicationsThe research results provide insights and references for firms to improve SCC by adopting appropriate IoT measures.Originality/valueMost of existing studies indicate the significance of technology in SCC. But this study shows a different conclusion that technologies rank the bottom, while information transparency is more important. And a suitable explanation is given. It further enriches the theoretical studies in SCC field.

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