Abstract:
Purpose: This study aims to identify the factors affecting the coordination in the humanitarian supply chain and to provide appropriate solutions. Design/Methodology/Approach: The techniques of Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping, Structural Equation Modeling, and Importance-Performance Analysis were used. A review of the literature and interviews with experts has led to the identification of 18 factors affecting coordination in the humanitarian supply chain, which were divided into five categories of strategic, infrastructure, cultural, process, and financial and non-financial resources. Findings: Factor analysis using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) showed that cultural cohesion and cooperation between partners was identified as the most important element. Also, the interpretive structural model of the main factors showed that the strategic, infrastructural, and cultural factors were at the basic level. In addition, the importance-performance analysis was used in this study, which showed that to achieve better coordination in relief operations, long-term planning, providing efficient, effective, and planned training, as well as mutual learning, should be considered. Practical implication: A potential practical implication is that actors involved in relief use the provided mechanisms such as operational and strategic planning. Social implications - By building trust and taking cultural considerations into account, it is possible to help better coordinate actors in crisis relief. Originality/value: One of the important things to improve the efficiency of humanitarian aid logistics operations is to establish coordination between the various partners and stakeholders. For the first time, the factors affecting the coordination in the humanitarian supply chain have been identified and appropriate solutions have been provided in this paper.
Machine summary:
Regarding the importance of coordination, Murray (2005) argues that achieving coordination requires identifying and addressing barriers to coordination in the humanitarian relief chain, thereby improving performance in humanitarian operations, preventing waste of resources (operational efficiency), and providing prompt services, which helps and increase victim satisfaction, which is a sign of the effectiveness of humanitarian operations.
Accordingly, management commitment, appropriate structure for information sharing, proper planning, and cultural factors were recognized as the most important factors in improving the coordination of humanitarian operations.
(2018) in another study, while applying big data-based approaches, trust between partners, having managerial, human relations, and technical skills, using information technology, and access to advanced technologies communication and transportation are mentioned as the most important factors in coordinating humanitarian operations.
Wankmüller & Reiner (2020) in a study while defining and distinguishing between coordination, cooperation, and joint efforts in the humanitarian supply chain from the use of information technology, stakeholder commitment, trust, and proper division of labor are mentioned as effective factors in increasing the efficiency of humanitarian operations.
(2019) Process Regular meetings between actors Gavidia (2017) Efficient, effective, and planned staff training ( Determining a transparent work cycle and open-door policy ( Performance evaluation system ( Feedback mechanism ( Financial Access to financial resources ( financial resources allocation method ( Electronic financial infrastructure ( Cultural factors also include the commitment of partners involved in humanitarian activities, the creation of a trusting environment between chain members, the mutual learning of commercial and humanitarian organizations, and cultural cohesion and cooperation between partners.
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