Purpose This paper aims to explore the how, why, who and what of collaborations in green innovation. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on 11 case studies conducted at high-technological firms where 30 top management representatives were interviewed. Findings The study shows that firms share knowledge on green innovation across industries through horizontal collaborations and their extended network, such as their suppliers’ and customer’s networks in other industries. The results also show that digitalization, connectivity and big data are considered important vessels to improve environmental sustainability, as firms believe that these technologies will result in large gains related to resource utilization. Finally, the firms in this study engaged to a wide extent in green innovation activities, which resulted in a variety of improved resource utilization related to energy efficiency, new materials, new technologies, limiting emissions and recycle management. Research limitations/implications The paper contributes to the literature by showing that firms share knowledge on green innovation not only within their network but also across industries through horizontal collaborations and their extended network. Practical implications The study points to the complexity of collaborating on green innovation. The authors show the importance of digitalization to improving environmental sustainability, with managers needing to develop business models and finding collaboration partners that can facilitate the transformation towards more connected products and services. Originality/value The study contributes to the field of supply network collaboration by studying how firms collaborate to improve environmental sustainability.

Purpose – This paper aims to, by connecting to the ongoing conversation on the importance of supply chain visibility, empirically examine the impact of visibility in supply chain relationships, on resource sharing among and on the performance of humanitarian organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Survey data were collected from 101 humanitarian organizations in Southeast Asia. The organizations all experienced being interconnected within the supply chain relationships formed in humanitarian response settings. Data are used to test the conceptually developed model, using the structural equation modeling-partial least square (SEM-PLS) approach. Findings – Results show that visibility has a significant impact on resource sharing and the performance of the organizations, especially in terms of the willingness to share resources, resources used and flexibility of organizations. The results also show that, in situations of high uncertainty, the association between resource sharing and performance becomes weaker. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to the method used. Practical implications – Findings of this research provide insights for humanitarian practitioners on the need to increase visibility of the scarce resources available within the relationships formed during a disaster relief operation to improve overall disaster response. The level of uncertainty in terms of needs assessment, number of affected people, location of a disaster and so forth, is also taken into account in the recommendations made. Originality/value – This study is among the first to empirically test the link between visibility, resource sharing and performance, specifically in a humanitarian context, which is among the critical success factors for better interorganizational coordination and better aid delivery.

Purpose of this paperThis paper aims to contribute to a more complete understanding of logistics preparedness. By comparing research in preparedness and logistics with findings from empirical analysis of secondary data, we develop a definition of and framework for logistics preparedness, along with suggestions for a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approachWe link the way in which humanitarian organizations define and aim to achieve logistics preparedness with extant academic research. We critically analyze public data from 13 organizations that are active in disaster relief and review papers on logistics preparedness and humanitarian logistics. FindingsWe found that, despite the increased attention, there is no unified understanding across organizations about what constitutes logistics preparedness and how it can contribute to improvements in operations. Based on our review of the academic literature, we found the same is true for humanitarian logistics research. The lack of a common understanding has resulted in low visibility of efforts and lack of knowledge on logistics preparedness. Research limitations/implicationsBased on research and practice, we suggest a definition of and framework for logistics preparedness with related suggestions for future studies. Practical implications (if applicable)Findings can help the humanitarian community gain a better understanding of their efforts related to developing logistics preparedness and provide a better basis for communicating the need for, and results from, funding in preparedness. Societal implicationsResults can support improvements in humanitarian supply chains, thereby providing affected people with rapid, cost-efficient, and better-adapted responses. What is original/value of paperOur findings contribute to humanitarian logistics literature, firstly by identifying issues related to the lack of a common definition. Secondly, we extend the understanding of what constitutes logistics preparedness by proposing an operationalized framework and definition. Finally, we add to the literature by discussing what future topics and types of research may be required.

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of cooperative purchasing on buyers’ purchasing power. Purchasing in the humanitarian sector has traditionally been characterized by a low level of coordination due to inter-agency competition for funding, diverging mandates and other organizational differences. Relationships with commercial suppliers have also remained arm's-length and often dormant due to high levels of uncertainty and strict public procurement rules and regulations. However, recent pushes for increased efficiency and effectiveness are driving humanitarian agencies toward cooperative purchasing – a purchasing strategy that is claimed to be highly beneficial for members of the purchasing consortium not least for its ability to increase buyers’ purchasing power. In reality, the effectiveness of the strategy in increasing purchasing power is unclear. Design/methodology/approach – The authors study a single case of several humanitarian organizations aiming to increase their leverage in buying freight forwarding services by joining forces. Findings – Following several incidents during the process, the cooperative purchasing initiative did not contribute to increased power in the case. It was found that in addition to increased volumes, the effect of the strategy on other sources of power such as interconnections is also of importance. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited to the boundaries of a single case study including the perceptive view of respondents interviewed. Practical implications – The findings of the study provide insights for organizations aiming to practice cooperative purchasing. Originality/value – The findings of the study provide insights for organizations aiming to practice cooperative purchasing.