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How standards and modularity can improve humanitarian supply chain responsiveness. The case of emergency response units

Author

Listed:
  • Marianne Jahre

    (Lund University)

  • Nathalie Fabbe-Costes

    (CRET-LOG - Centre de Recherche sur le Transport et la Logistique - AMU - Aix Marseille Université)

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the use of standards and modularity for improving responsiveness in the humanitarian context. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a conceptual framework and a systematic literature review, the authors conducted a longitudinal, explorative case on the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) concept in the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Society (IFRC), focussing particularly on the Health ERU in the Norwegian Red Cross. Findings – The authors found that the ERU concept makes use of many types of standards that complement and influence each other, and that the focus on modularity is increasing due to a growing need for responsiveness. Main challenges are trade-offs between autonomy and adaptability to the context resulting in more modularization which may be in danger of breaking the concept. Research limitations/implications – Results from this study could be refined by surveying staff involved in all types of ERU deployments. To explore the generalizability of the findings and test the propositions developed, more studies should be conducted. Practical implications – The study provides more understanding of the use of standards and modularity for improving responsiveness. Practitioners can use the framework as a check-list to identify potential means for improvements. The case can be used for training, discussions, and reflections. The research feeds into IFRC's and NORCROSS ongoing work to their global response tools. Social implications – The results of the study can support improvements in humanitarian supply chains, thereby providing affected people with cost-efficient, rapid, and better-adapted responses. Originality/value – The authors develop a framework for categorization of standards and modularity in the humanitarian context. The authors provide the first empirical study on how humanitarian organizations use standards and modularity to improve responsiveness concluding with a set of propositions on how the concepts are linked.

Suggested Citation

  • Marianne Jahre & Nathalie Fabbe-Costes, 2015. "How standards and modularity can improve humanitarian supply chain responsiveness. The case of emergency response units," Post-Print hal-01419104, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01419104
    DOI: 10.1108/JHLSCM-06-2015-0026
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01419104
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giulia Santarelli & Hella Abidi & Matthias Klumpp & Alberto Regattieri, 2015. "Humanitarian supply chains and performance measurement schemes in practice," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 64(6), pages 784-810, July.
    2. Dayna Simpson & Damien Power & Robert Klassen, 2012. "When One Size Does Not Fit All: A Problem of Fit Rather than Failure for Voluntary Management Standards," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(1), pages 85-95, September.
    3. repec:eme:mrn000:01409170910998264 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Brusoni, Stefano & Prencipe, Andrea, 2001. "Unpacking the Black Box of Modularity: Technologies, Products and Organizations," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 10(1), pages 179-205, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Claudia Paciarotti & Inna Valiakhmetova, 2021. "Evaluating Disaster Operations Management: An Outcome‐Process Integrated Approach," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(2), pages 543-562, February.
    2. Félicia Saïah & Diego Vega & Harwin de Vries & Joakim Kembro, 2023. "Process modularity, supply chain responsiveness, and moderators: The Médecins Sans Frontières response to the Covid‐19 pandemic," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 32(5), pages 1490-1511, May.
    3. Tina Comes & Bartel Van de Walle & Luk Van Wassenhove, 2020. "The Coordination‐Information Bubble in Humanitarian Response: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(11), pages 2484-2507, November.
    4. Paula Camargo Fiorini & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & Gary Ramsden, 2022. "The human side of humanitarian supply chains: a research agenda and systematization framework," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 319(1), pages 911-936, December.
    5. Yusen Ye & Wen Jiao & Hong Yan, 2020. "Managing Relief Inventories Responding to Natural Disasters: Gaps Between Practice and Literature," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(4), pages 807-832, April.
    6. Charbel José Chiappetta Jabbour & Vinicius Amorim Sobreiro & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & Lucila Maria Souza Campos & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Douglas William Scott Renwick, 2019. "An analysis of the literature on humanitarian logistics and supply chain management: paving the way for future studies," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 289-307, December.
    7. Lijo John & Anand Gurumurthy & Arqum Mateen & Gopalakrishnan Narayanamurthy, 2022. "Improving the coordination in the humanitarian supply chain: exploring the role of options contract," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 319(1), pages 15-40, December.
    8. Charles J. Corbett & Alfonso J. Pedraza‐Martinez & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2022. "Sustainable humanitarian operations: An integrated perspective," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(12), pages 4393-4406, December.
    9. Shekarian, Mansoor & Reza Nooraie, Seyed Vahid & Parast, Mahour Mellat, 2020. "An examination of the impact of flexibility and agility on mitigating supply chain disruptions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).

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