Outsourcing in humanitarian logistics – status quo and future directions

Gossler, Timo; Wakolbinger, Tina; Burkart, Christian

doi:10.1108/ijpdlm-12-2018-0400

Cited by 18 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…In order to collect the papers, Web of Science, SCOPUS, EBSCOHOST and ABI Inform electronic databases were selected. These databases are considered prevalent and have been benefited by the previous studies (Abidi et al, 2014;Altay and Narayanan, 2020;Banomyong et al, 2019;Behl and Dutta, 2019;Gossler et al, 2020;Nurmala et al, 2017). Three categories of structured keywords were determined in accordance with the scope of the research and based on the research questions.…”

Section: Locating Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic capabilities in humanitarian supply chain management: a systematic literature review

Polater

2020

JHLSCM

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PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to examine the extant literature of humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) which specifically use dynamic capabilities (DCs) view. By this means, the objectives of this study are to identify and assess the DCs used in the HSCM context, the factors positively and negatively affecting the DCs and how the DCs affect humanitarian supply chain (HSC) operations. Furthermore, this research aims to give directions for future research in the field of HSCM.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts systematic literature review (SLR) approach proposed by Denyer and Tranfield (2009). Based on a SLR, this study synthesizes and compares the evidence, has a specific focus and research questions, has certain inclusion and exclusion criteria and provides evidence-based implications to the researchers and practitioners. This is a method which is replicable, transparent and auditable. The SLR methodology provides scholars and practitioners a basis for comprehending the current situation of relevant topic and taking correct steps in their future actions.FindingsThis SLR deduces that applying DCs view is still in its infancy in the HSCM literature. The result of this SLR reveals that supply chain agility (SCA), supply chain resilience (SCR), reconfiguration/transformation, integration, (short-term) collaboration, sustaining, sensing, seizing and knowledge access DCs have been used in the HSCM literature. In addition, it is determined that only one paper analyzed the influence of DCs on predisaster performance while rest of the papers focused on the postdisaster performance.Originality/valueThe result of the exhaustive literature search indicates that this is the first SLR that specifically analyzes the application of DCs view in the HSCM domain. This investigation determined the DCs used in HSCM and revealed the relations between the dependent and independent variables through the comprehensive model. In this way, this review provides a guidance to researchers in conduct their future investigations and practitioners to carry out supply chain (SC) operations by considering the factors affecting their operations.

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Section: Locating Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic capabilities in humanitarian supply chain management: a systematic literature review

Polater

2020

JHLSCM

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“…In addition to that, transportation services were realized to be among the most desired outsourced activities after the disaster occurs, this conclusion is inconsistent with the findings of Baharmand et al (2017), Bealt et al (2016), Nurmala et al (2017), Vega and Roussat (2015). When it comes to the analysis of -what to outsource‖, the findings revealed that the Al Zaatari camp supply chain prefers to outsource what is known as -primary humanitarian logistics activities‖ (Nurmala et al, 2017, p. 89) to boost and faster response to refugees and alleviate their suffering, these primary logistic activities include food items and water (Sanchez Gil & McNeil, 2015) and non-food items; basically accommodation and housing material, and flows of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment (Gossler et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As pointed out by Abidi et al (2015) considering the complexity of logistic infrastructure, and the pressure put from donors, humanitarian organizations need specialized knowledge to enhance the inclusive effectiveness of the system during humanitarian actions. HOs relying upon private individual and institutions' funding, and they provide high-quality relief services on a not-for-profit basis or based on cost recovery systems (Gossler et al, 2020;Vega & Roussat, 2015) thence, donors increasingly expect value in return for money and demand HOs to be more efficient, accountable, and transparent regarding their performance and its metrics (Kopczak & Johnson, 2007) to reach targeted beneficiaries in the shortest time possible (Nurmala et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

The impact of using outsourcing strategy by humanitarian organizations on logistical performance: An empirical investigation from a developing country

Rifai

Ramadan

Yousif

et al. 2021

JGR

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This paper empirically investigates the potential benefits of outsourcing humanitarian logistics activities to commercial logistics service providers (LSPs) to improve rescue missions in the Al Zaatari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. The study uses a quantitative research approach, a survey data set of 140 questionnaires was collected from the managers and managerial staff dealing with logistical activities. First, a comprehensive review of related literature was performed to guide this research and then to test the main hypotheses of this study, correlation and regression analysis were carried out. The findings confirmed that humanitarian organizations in Al Zaatary camp can get benefits from collaborating with LSPs on delivering primary logistic services (shelter, food, medicine, transportation, etc.) (Nurmala, de Leeuw, & Dullaert, 2017). Moreover, the findings showed that outsourcing is preferred in the response phase (Vega & Roussat, 2015). This paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge on humanitarian logistics in ways that fills a gap by empirically investigate the phenomenon, as well as it is considered well timed in the context of the still current situation due to political instability in the region. As far as the authors are aware, this research represents the first study within the humanitarian logistics sector in Jordan.

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“…A couple of years ago Akbari (2018) conducted a structured literature review concluding that the volume of logistics outsourcing articles remains high. At the same time, outsourcing research is expanded to new fields like humanitarian logistics (Gossler et al , 2020) and green logistics (Jazairy, 2020). Premkumar et al (2020) suggest that future work on logistics outsourcing is likely to turn the attention to the difficult question of last mile.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study of market potential for logistics outsourcing in Estonia and Finland

Solakivi

Kiisler

Hilmola

2021

JGOSS

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Purpose This research analyzes the development of logistics outsourcing market in two countries, Estonia and Finland, with different paths as members of the single European market. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the two markets have become more similar or whether their logistics costs and logistics markets have developed differently over time. Design/methodology/approach The development of the logistics market is addressed through two survey-based variables. Logistics costs are used to measure the size of the logistics market, whereas logistics outsourcing is analyzed to measure the development phase as well as the market potential for logistics service provision. Findings Estonian logistics outsourcing market was found to be underdeveloped and small compared to the Finnish market. At the same time, the logistics costs of Finnish companies are high and rising, whereas the costs of Estonian firms are declining. Research limitations/implications The results imply that the level of outsourcing might explain the visibility of logistics costs, which should be taken into account when making estimates on logistics costs both at the firm as well as on country level. Social implications Logistics sector is an important source of national competitiveness and employment. This research identifies subareas for the two countries on how to develop competitiveness through the logistics market. Originality/value This research provides a unique method to estimate the size of logistics outsourcing market in these two countries. It also represents as one of the rare works to provide multiyear comparison between countries in logistics costs.

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Outsourcing in humanitarian logistics – status quo and future directions

Cited by 18 publications

References 108 publications

Dynamic capabilities in humanitarian supply chain management: a systematic literature review

Dynamic capabilities in humanitarian supply chain management: a systematic literature review

The impact of using outsourcing strategy by humanitarian organizations on logistical performance: An empirical investigation from a developing country

A comparative study of market potential for logistics outsourcing in Estonia and Finland

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