Purpose:There is a need for theory development within the field of humanitarian logistics to understand logistics needs in different stages of a crisis and how to meet these.In this paper we discuss three dimensions identified in logistics and organisation theories and how they relate to three different cases of humanitarian logistics operations -the regional concept of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, the development and working of the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre and coordination challenges of military logistics in UN mandated peacekeeping operations. The purpose is to build a framework to be used in further studies. Design/methodology/approach:A framework for the study of humanitarian logistics along three dimensions is developed, followed by a discussion of the chosen cases in relation to these dimensions. The framework will be used as basis for the case studies to be undertaken for the purpose of understanding and identification of new questions and needs for other or revised concepts from theory. Findings:The paper shows the relevance of a wide literature to the issues pertinent to humanitarian logistics. There is considerable promise in extant literature on logistics, SCM and coordination, but his needs to be confronted with the particular issues seen in the humanitarian logistics setting to achieve further theory development. Originality/value:The major contribution of the paper lies in its breadth of theoretical perspectives presented and combined in a preliminary theoretical framework. This will be applied more specifically in the three case studies described in the paper.

Purpose -When deploying a frigate to the Gulf of Aden as a part of the Operation Atalanta, the Norwegian Defence outsourced logistics to a TPL provider. The purpose of this paper is to explore the cooperation between the Defence and the TPL provider during the operation. Design/methodology/approach -A qualitative design was chosen. Semi-structured interviews were combined with relevant secondary sources. A theoretical framework formed the basis for the interviews. Findings -No long-term history existed between the parties before the cooperation, and no psychological contracts between individuals at tactical levels were made beforehand. Yet the cooperation was a success. It seems that this to a large degree depended on the individuals assigned to the project.Research limitations/implications -The research highlights the need to address not only how to design physical supply structures but also how to ensure adequate levels of collaborative competence within civil-military project groups. Further research is needed to investigate how to embed key suppliers in Defence logistics structures and how supply chains for short-term, limited deployments impact on logistics arrangements for the permanent structure of the Defence. Practical implications -This research gives the Norwegian Defence valuable knowledge about how to collaborate with commercial logistics providers. Originality/value -This research highlights challenges when embedding suppliers into military supply chains. This is of importance not just when supplying deployed forces but also when considering supplier integration, e.g. through PPP and PBL.

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the crisis network response of European countries and the role played by defence organizations (DOs) during the early response phase of the pandemic, here set to encompass 75 days. Design/methodology/approach Published materials – reports, news and communications – provided by authorities and DOs were used. Some of the authors actively participated in national pandemic response networks. An exploratory approach and qualitative content analysis were applied. The data were collected in national languages from 13 European countries, and they were coded and analysed using the actors, resources and activities (ARA) framework. Findings This study identified three main categories of activity structures in which the DOs interacted with civilian members of response networks, health-related services, logistics services and public support services. These networks among actors were found within formal response systems and emergent networks. The DOs engaged as actors that provided a range of services when civil authorities could not cope with the huge demand for specific services and when resources were scarce in the initial response phase. Originality/value This study contributes by filling an important research gap with regard to the civil-military relations associated with the use of DO resources in the civil response to the pandemic crisis in Europe, which is described as an untraditional response. The ARA network approach provides a framework for arranging ARA and extends the wider civil-military network to expand the formal networks of the early crisis response. The study lays knowledge about the co-operation between civilian and military actors in different contexts and provides a broader understanding of the roles that DOs played in the response operations.

The lacking Russian progress in war in Ukraine is often attributed to failing logistics, yet the logistics and its eventually failure is not explained. The purpose with this paper is to present some logistics principles that can be used to describe the Russian way of logistics planning, and to infer whether failing logistics slowed down the military operations or if failing operational conduct led to revised operational plans that could not be sustained logistically. The initial Russian Course of Action (COA) to take Kyiv was probably well supported logistically. When the COA failed, contingency plans most likely did not take into consideration the logistical challenges of supporting another type of operation, partly because of the logistics vacuum resulting from the preceding exercises. In the southeast the logistical concept seems to build on the echelon principle, which fits poorly with the lack of operational success. Adding to this is successful Ukrainian tactics of targeting Russian logistics resources which significantly reduces the Russian fighting power. This assessment is based on openly accessible information about the Russian campaign. Reporting from an ongoing war poses challenges of verifying data. Both warring parties and other stakeholders pursue their own interest through strategic communication. Yet, by combining different sources we believe that our findings are quite robust. For future research, archival studies both in Ukraine and Russia, combined with interviews with logistics personnel at both sides would add new dimensions to the research. We realise though that such data sources will not be accessible for quite some time.

The NOFOMA network is a society of Nordic researchers within the fields of logistics and supply chain management (SCM). The network started in 1989 as a meeting place for logistics scholars in the Nordic countries and has now grown to include institutions and researchers from many nations. The 2019 conference gathered a total of 94 researchers from nearly 20 countries, from Europe, North America, the Far East and Africa.The main theme of the conference was "Supply Chains and Sustainable Development of Societies", based on the UN Sustainable Development Goalsthe SDGs (Resolution 70/1 of the UN General Assembly: The 2030 Agenda). By emphasising sustainability, we wanted to invite the logistics community to contribute by doing research related to the SDGs. The NOFOMA community did indeed respond. A sustainability track ran through the whole conference, along with other research themes that bring our societies forward. To live up to the SDGs, we also made the conference as sustainable as possible; we introduced a conference app to keep all documentation and communication digital, we produced no paper or giveaways, the lunches were certified green and we encouraged all participants to use public transportation to and from the conference. Moreover, to thank the Scientific Committee, we offset one ton of CO 2 emissions for each committee member.The call for abstracts resulted in 100 submissions. Of these, we accepted 39 as full papers after a double-blind peer-review process, and accepted 33 to be presented as works in progress. In total, 69 reviewers generously contributed their expertise and time to provide feedback on the full papers. An initial selection of high-quality papers was listed by the NOFOMA 2019 Scientific Committee based on IJPDLM review criteria, the committee's reading of the papers and reviewers' comments. From these, one paper was awarded as Best Paper and one as Best Doctoral Paper. We are grateful for the long-lasting co-operation by DB Schenker, who sponsors both these awards. The list of papers further served as the basis for selecting manuscripts for this special issue. The short-listed papers were revised at least twice by reviewers appointed by IJPDLM, before being accepted by the guest editors and finally by the IJPDLM Editor, Professor Chee Yew Wong.Sustainability is a "new normal" and must be widely integrated in research and practice, rather than treated as an extraordinary issue. The papers in this special issue show the broad and cross-functional characteristics of SCM, and demonstrate how to incorporate sustainability as a foundation in future business areas.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the need for and develop a framework for research on the effects UN peace operation infrastructure has on a host nation. Mission infrastructure serves primarily to sustain a mission. As the mission terminates, infrastructure is often transferred to the host nation. The mission infrastructures could have both positive and negative implications for the host nation and for local communities.Design/methodology/approachExploratory approach to develop a foundation for a research agenda in an area with little existing research. Identify theoretical contributions related to infrastructures, combine with primary data from one peace operation, secondary data from five other peace operations and from the UN repositories.FindingsThis study proposes a research agenda. As such our findings relate to the identification and classification of different infrastructures and their interdependencies.Research limitations/implicationsThis framework would contribute to new ways of exploring and analysing both the effectiveness of peace operations and the impact a mission has on the development in the host nation.Practical implicationsThis study proposes a framework for research. As such, it will have implications primarily for researchers.Social implicationsUnderstanding the interdependencies between mission infrastructures and the material and social infrastructures of a host nation would help understanding what value mission infrastructure brings to a host nation and the local communities.Originality/valueAnalysing the logistics in peace support operations as networks of infrastructures bring new perspectives into humanitarian logistics.