Outsourcing of humanitarian logistics to commercial logistics service providers: An empirical investigation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the potential of outsourcing of humanitarian logistics activities to commercial logistics service providers (LSPs) throughout the different disaster phases. The authors identify incentives for initiating outsourcing of humanitarian logistics activities to commercial logistics providers, humanitarian logistics activities to be outsourced and selection criteria for partners. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on empirical data collected by interviewing 12 practitioners from commercial LSPs and 12 practitioners from humanitarian organizations (HOs). A review of related literature guided this research. Findings – This research shows that incentives for initiating outsourcing engagements, partner selection criteria and activities to be outsourced are changing throughout the different disaster phases. A number of research propositions are presented. Research limitations/implications – This research constitutes a first step towards the goal of a comprehensive analysis of humanitarian logistics outsourcing throughout the different disaster phases. The authors collected data from practitioners and large organizations based mainly in Europe and the USA. Hence, insights from national and local organizations of other parts of the world are missing. Practical implications – This research provides a deeper understanding of outsourcing of humanitarian logistics activities. As the main implication for practice, the research suggests a strategic use of outsourcing during the three disaster phases. The authors acknowledge that business objectives, risks, stakeholder agendas and requirements, as well as costs play a vital and changing role for outsourcing decision-making during the three disaster stages. The managerial implications arising from the research can provide support to commercial LSPs and HOs that initiate or develop strategic outsourcing relationships. Originality/value – This study covers the gap in the humanitarian literature related to context-specific factors of outsourcing in humanitarian logistics by empirically investigating the phenomenon. This is one of the first studies that empirically investigate the potential of outsourcing of humanitarian logistics activities throughout the disaster phases

Digitizing the field: designing ERP systems for Triple-A humanitarian supply chains

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore what design principles need to be considered in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for humanitarian organizations (HOs) to enable agile, adaptive and aligned (Triple-A) humanitarian supply chain capabilities and digitize humanitarian operations. Design/methodology/approach: This study follows an embedded case study approach with ahumanitarian medical relief organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which engaged in a multiyear ERP design at its humanitarian field missions. Findings: This research shows that ERP systems for humanitarian organizations should be designed asunique systems addressing humanitarian organizations' challenges and unique missions, their valuegeneration processes, and resource base in an effort to improve organizational performance. This study presents 12 general design principles that are unique for humanitarian organizations. These design principle sprovide a high-level structure of guidance under which specific requirements can be further defined and engineered to achieve success. Research limitations/implications: The results of this study are based on a single case study limiting generalizability. However, the case study was analyzed and presented as an embedded case study with five autonomous subunits using different business processes and following different adoption and implementation approaches. Therefore, the findings are derived based on considerable variance reflective of humanitarian organizations beyond MSF. Practical implications: This study recognizes that HOs have unique routines that standard commercial ERP packages do not address easily at the field level. The primary contribution of this research is a set of design principles that consider these unique routines and guide ERP development in practice. National and international HOs that are planning to implement information systems, private companies that are trading partners of HOs as well as vendors of ERP systems that are looking for new opportunities would all benefitfrom this research. Originality/value: This study fills the gap in the humanitarian literature regarding the design of ERPsystems for humanitarian organizations that enable Triple–A supply chain capabilities and it advances the knowledge of the challenges of ERP design by HOs in the context of humanitarian operations

Disaster relief inventory management: horizontal cooperation between humanitarian organizations

Cooperation among humanitarian organizations has attracted increasing attention to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of relief supply chains. Our research focuses on horizontal cooperation in inventory management which is currently implemented in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) network. The present work follows a two-step research approach, which involves collection of empirical data and quantitative modeling to examine and overcome the coordination challenges of the network. Our interviews with members of the network identified several managerial issues for sustainable cooperative inventory management that the UNHRD network pursues. Using a newsvendor model in the context of non-cooperative game theory, our research has explored member humanitarian organizations' incentive of joining the network, a coordination mechanism which achieves system optimality, and impacts of members' decisions about stock rationing. Our results indicate that behaviors of member HOs do not necessarily align with the UNHRD's expectation. Our results suggest that for system optimality, a system coordinator should carefully assess the circumstances, including demand coefficient and stock rationing. Our research also proposes a policy priority for the first-best system optimal inventory management

Mitigating personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain disruptions in pandemics - a system dynamics approach

Purpose The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as an unprecedented health crisis worldwide and heavily disrupted the healthcare supply chain. This study focuses on analysing the different types of disruptions occurring in personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and on proposing mitigation strategies that are fit to the global scale and many interdependencies that are characteristic for this pandemic. The authors construct a conceptual system dynamics model (SD) based on the literature and adjusted with the use of empirical data (interviews) to capture the complexity of a global supply chain and identify leverage points (mitigation strategies). Design/methodology/approach This research follows a mix-methods approach. First, the authors developed a conceptual framework based on four types of disruptions that usually occur during health emergencies (direct effect, policy, supply chain strategy, and behaviourally induced disruptions). Second, the authors collected and analysed data from interviews with experts in the PPE supply chain. Based on the interviews data, the authors developed a conceptual system dynamics (SD) model that allows to capture the complex and dynamic interplay between the elements of the global supply chain system, by highlighting key feedback loops, delays, and the way the mitigation strategies can impact on them. From this analysis, the authors developed four propositions for supply chain risk management (SCRM) in global health emergencies and four recommendations for the policy and decision makers. Findings The SD model highlights that without a combination of mitigation measures, it is impossible to overcome all disruptions. As such, a co-ordinated effort across the different countries and sectors that experience the disruptions is needed. The SD model also shows that there are important feedback loops, by which initial disruptions create delays and shortages that propagate through the supply chain network. If the co-ordinated mitigation measures are not implemented early at the onset of the pandemic, these disruptions will be persistent, creating potential shortages of PPE and other critical equipment at the onset of a pandemic - when they are most urgently needed. Originality/value This research enriches the understanding of the disruptions of PPE supply chains on the systems level and proposes mitigation strategies based on empirical data and the existing literature

Mitigating personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain disruptions in pandemics – a system dynamics approach

Purpose The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as an unprecedented health crisis worldwide and heavily disrupted the healthcare supply chain. This study focuses on analysing the different types of disruptions occurring in personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and on proposing mitigation strategies that are fit to the global scale and many interdependencies that are characteristic for this pandemic. The authors construct a conceptual system dynamics model (SD) based on the literature and adjusted with the use of empirical data (interviews) to capture the complexity of a global supply chain and identify leverage points (mitigation strategies). Design/methodology/approach This research follows a mix-methods approach. First, the authors developed a conceptual framework based on four types of disruptions that usually occur during health emergencies (direct effect, policy, supply chain strategy, and behaviourally induced disruptions). Second, the authors collected and analysed data from interviews with experts in the PPE supply chain. Based on the interviews data, the authors developed a conceptual system dynamics (SD) model that allows to capture the complex and dynamic interplay between the elements of the global supply chain system, by highlighting key feedback loops, delays, and the way the mitigation strategies can impact on them. From this analysis, the authors developed four propositions for supply chain risk management (SCRM) in global health emergencies and four recommendations for the policy and decision makers. Findings The SD model highlights that without a combination of mitigation measures, it is impossible to overcome all disruptions. As such, a co-ordinated effort across the different countries and sectors that experience the disruptions is needed. The SD model also shows that there are important feedback loops, by which initial disruptions create delays and shortages that propagate through the supply chain network. If the co-ordinated mitigation measures are not implemented early at the onset of the pandemic, these disruptions will be persistent, creating potential shortages of PPE and other critical equipment at the onset of a pandemic – when they are most urgently needed. Originality/value This research enriches the understanding of the disruptions of PPE supply chains on the systems level and proposes mitigation strategies based on empirical data and the existing literature.peerReviewe

D1.2 – Lessons learned and best practices COVID-19 response: Health Emergency Response in Interconnected Systems

This report on COVID-19 Crisis Governance is Deliverable 1.2 ‘Lessons learned and best practices’ of the project HERoS - Health Emergency Response in Interconnected Systems. It builds on HERoS’ Deliverable 1.1 ‘Recommendations for governance and policies in the COVID-2019 response’. This Deliverable contains three parts. Part A drives on extensive qualitative research in three European countries (the Netherlands, Finland, and Ireland). Part B presents best governance practices and challenges in cross-border medical supply chain. It takes lessons learned from the EU joint procurement and the COVAX initiative for the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Part C reflects on the social network Municipio Solidale in Rome the charity work in the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part D provides the best practices from deployment of UK-MED and PCPM’s Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). Part A presents collected evidence and share best practices and lessons learned related to the governance of the COVID-19 crisis within nursing homes and secondary schools in Europe. Using a whole-of-society approach which we presented in Deliverable 1.1, we looked at three analytical layers: (1) the state and the institutional landscape, (2) established and emerging response organizations and networks, (3) societal resilience and participation. We conducted in-depth interviews, observations, and focus group discussions, and in the Netherlands, we additionally made use of a participatory action research approach wherein we used visual ethnography, photovoice, video diary and arts-based engagement research. Regarding nursing homes, three main themes emerged from our data. First, we found high levels of trauma among nursing home workers and supporting organisations. Therefore, on-site group therapy is the envisioned response needed. Second, we found a major workforce outflow of the sector. This could be mitigated by a structural wage development that is in line with the value of performing essential work duties and would additionally heighten the attractiveness of the nursing profession. Third, due to lack of governmental and public appreciation we have found diminished levels of professional pride, which could be addressed with aligning nursing home working conditions with national hospital standards. In conclusion, we warn about the possible uprising of a European social care crisis which could be mediated by rapid policy-level action in line with our findings. For secondary schools, we also derived three main themes from our data. First, we argue that there is a need in European countries for leadership that facilitates action towards the well-being of our young populations. Experts stressed the importance of strengthening adolescents’ lobbies and advocacy groups in decision making processes. Second, there is an urgent need for funding into tackling COVID-19 associated increases in inequalities among adolescents. Extra time and attention should be allocated to adolescents who have fallen behind with their studies during the past two years. Lastly, we discovered many adolescent accounts of depressive and anxiety symptoms and we emphasise the urgency of closing Europe’s biggest treatment gap within mental health services for youth by reducing waiting times. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused long-lasting, and in some cases even life-long difficulties to young people. In conclusion, nursing homes and secondary schools are dealing with different vulnerable groups, risks, and priorities and hence, this fuelled variations in crisis response. General measures (e.g. school closures/visitor ban) should be decided upon by central authorities supported by proper coordination mechanisms, while more specific guidelines that depend on the individual attributes of the field needs to be decentralized and bottom-up. Deepening citizens’ participation into the crisis response gives them ownership and control to influence public decision-making that affects their lives. Part B presents the desk review on the European Union’s joint procurement for personal protective equipment, ventilators, laboratory equipment, therapeutic remdesivir and ICU medicines and vaccines, and the COVAX Facility for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we govern global medical supply chains unprecedented joint procurement and collaboration initiatives have been set up during the pandemic. In this part we refelct on such cross-border governance mechanisms of joint procurement initiatives in medical supply chains. It examines challenges and best practises by collaborative initiatives from both the EU and the COVAX’ COVID-19 vaccine procurement and distribution. Both comprise innovative cross-border collaborative mechanisms for vaccine procurement and distribution, yet differ across membership, geographic scale, policies, and organizational governance arrangements. They were both values-driven initiatives, inspired by calls for solidarity, but also stemming from necessity. The EU’s procurement for innovation mechanism required the adoption of novel practices in contract development and management, plus new governing institutions (first RescEU, now also HERA). This Part 2 shows how the EU faced unique challenges with one of their co-funded vaccine developers that resulted in disputes over delivery volumes and schedules. However, the joint purchasing of COVID-19 vaccines using Advance Purchase Agreements with vaccine manufacturers through funds under the European Commission´s Emergency Support instrument has been an innovative cross-border governance initiative that could inspire similar collaboration in other domains (e.g., energy). It comprised a centralised or ‘centre-out’ governance arrangement co-ordinated by the European Commission with formal rules within a fragmented bureaucracy, pursuing legal and political alignment among member states of a tightly connected union. It is characterised by broad regional scope, being far more ambitious than earlier EU procurement strategies. Part C is a presentation of the case Municipio Solidale, a local solidarity project in Rome that started at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and lasted until the end of July 2020. The case is about the distribution of food in a municipality in Rome by spontaneous volunteers and social networks. The case presents the challenges the social network had to overcome. The fact that most of the planned activities are still ongoing in 2020 and are permanently included in the territorial offers, shows not only how urgent these measures were in the most difficult period of the pandemic crisis, but above all how necessary they were in general. The response of the territorial community itself, the degree of mobilization and passion that characterized all the activities of the project, as well as the welcome of citizens tell us that Municipio Solidale has managed to respond to a complex request already present in the VIII Municipality, which are further amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic: a demand for primary goods and relational goods among the most vulnerable. The case shows that local initiatives will last and grew into stable charity mechanisms and have the potential to become part of whole of society governance mechanisms. Part D describes PCPM part in EMTs that were one of few emergency response mechanisms that were of relevance in the COVID-19 pandemic. The teams of highly specialized medical staff, with considerable international experience and working under the auspices of the WHO, could have and in many instances were, a very meaningful support to the developing countries facing the worst brunt of the pandemics, coupled with shortages of skills, experienced personnel and equipment. This part summarizes main operational difficulties faced by UK-Med and Polish PCPM’s Emergency Medical Teams, stemming from 25 and 7 COVID-19 deployments respectively. In particular it discusses the changing role of EMTs, as well as challenges faced in meeting high expectations of the respective ministries of health