Emerald | Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management | Table of Contents

Evaluating the Economic Sustainability of Sanitation Logistics in Senegal

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This research was performed to determine if the emptying of latrines in a flood-prone urban slum area would be a sustainable and profitable business for private-sector service providers.Design/methodology/approach - Monte-Carlo analysis was used to evaluate the economic sustainability of a proposed public-private waste transportation service. A GIS-assisted route analysis was also performed, with participation by private and public sector stakeholders.Findings - The analysis also showed that if a low-cost subscription service is implemented in the area, the commercial service providers will operate at a loss in all cases, unless changes are made in the truck fuel efficiency, the operating hours of discharge sites, and the transportation network.Research limitations/implications - The research was based on service provider operations costs extrapolated from previous studies and updated through informal interviews. A thorough and transparent review of cost accounting procedures is necessary to validate the results. Practical implications - This study identified challenges and potential solutions which must be addressed by practitioners in order to ensure success of a subscription-based service. Originality/value - This study adds to the existing literature by demonstrating the applicability of an analytic modeling technique based on Monte-Carlo simulation and provides an example of how academic research can be tightly coupled with practitioner needs in order to have a direct impact on operational humanitarian projects.

Humanitarian Logistics: Enhancing the Engagement of Local Populations

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to identify how local populations, particularly at the municipal and village levels, can enhance their capacity to prepare and respond more effectively and efficiently to the logistic challenges that they face in the aftermath of a natural disaster.Design/methodology/approach - Using a phenomenological approach, a qualitative research study was conducted from an interpretative, constructivist perspective. Through a series of semi-structured interviews the researchers gathered stories about the experiences of local responders at municipal level in the capital city region of the Republic of the Philippines in the aftermath of a specific natural disaster event (Typhoon Ondoy – September 2009). A number of key differences between the espoused strategies expressed in disaster management legislation and the actual experiences of local people on the ground were identified and, as a result, a conceptual model was developed that, if implemented, would enhance the capacity of local populations to prepare and respond in a more efficient and effective manner.Findings - Results from the study indicate that the ability of local populations to contribute to the logistic preparation and response processes has been considerably undervalued and under-utilised. A revised model is therefore developed that better incorporates their potential contribution to the management of both the demand and supply sides that would lead to swifter, more accurate, and more efficient logistic response mechanisms.Originality/value - The developing canon of humanitarian logistic literature has, to date, been relatively silent on the subject of the contribution of the local population to the overall logistic management challenge. The paper provides important insights into the issues on which the government of a developing country could usefully focus attention in their approach to natural disaster preparedness and response, and it offers a conceptual model for future testing and evaluation.

Services Operations Management and Humanitarian Logistics

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Graham Heaslip) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This paper examines the nature service operations management and its application to the field of humanitarian logistics. The purpose of this paper is to assess developments in the humanitarian logistics (HUMLOG) literature over the last six years and to lay out some opportunities for the HUMLOG academic community in the area of services operations management.Design/methodology/approach - A systematic, quantitative review, consistent with suggestions that the methodological rigor of reviews of the management literature should be strengthened was undertaken.Findings - The paper suggests that there is an opportunity for HUMLOG academics to engage in the service operations management arena and apply their knowledge and skills to answer fundamental questions in the areas of servitisation, service developments, service standardisation, the role of humanitarian aid (HA) organisations as logistics service providers and to apply their expertise in business services. Research limitations/implications - The analysis was limited to fifteen peer reviewed journals with the word ‘Humanitarian’ and/or any of the phrases ‘Disaster’, ‘Humanitarian Aid’, ‘Humanitarian Logistics’, ‘Humanitarian Operations’ or ‘Humanitarian Supply Chains’, in either their titles, abstracts or full texts. The results of this review and analysis, however, provide sufficient evidence to support the main arguments advanced in the paper.Originality/value - The paper contributes to the knowledge and applications of services operations management in HUMLOG research.

AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF COMMON DRUGS IN THE HEALTH SUPPLY CHAIN: WHERE DOES THE COMPASS POINT?

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Amarendranath Mohanty, Nayan Chakravarty) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The study provide insights into availability of common drugs with respect to disease load, regarding three common childhood diseases, Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), Diarrhea and Malaria. The study flags an important issue regarding the level of expertise of the present system to address humanitarian logistics in case of emergency.Design/methodology/approach - A mixed method approach using both qualitative and quantitative study techniques was used to collect data. Hospital level data were collected from randomly selected Primary Health Centers and Community Health Centers. A cohort of 3 Community Health Centers and 9 Primary Health Centers were selected for the study. The data collected were both on disease load and availability of drugs during the study period (2009-2012), using a retrospective cohort. Expert interviews were conducted of practicing medical practitioners on classification of drugs into Vital, Essential and Desirable categories. Findings - Results shows that the month of September represents the highest morbidity (case loads of all 3 diseases taken together). Acute Respiratory Infection is most prevalent among the three diseases, with total case loads of 1539 cases during the month of September (during 2009-2012). However the Vital and Essential drugs availability for Acute Respiratory Infection was found to be seven percent, 57% for malaria and 98% for diarrhea. Drug supply was not only inadequate but also uneven and erratic, having weak correlation with the patter of disease morbidity.Research limitations/implications - Cases who attended the government owned health centres were only considered for the study and did not consider those who were attended by private practitioners. The study did highlight the capability of the system to manage ongoing health supplies and the extent of vulnerability it can pose in case of any humanitarian crisis but the later remains outside the scope of the present study.Originality/value - The study adds to the existing body of literature by demonstrating the gap that exists in availability of drugs against requirement, for common childhood illness. The study provides health policy makes a useful guide to establish drugs requirement based on disease load, which hold policy implication across other low and middle income countries as well.

Prepositioning Commodities to Repair Maritime Navigational Aids

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - As the intensity of natural disasters increase, there is a need to develop policies and procedures to assist various agencies with moving aid to affected areas. One of the biggest limitations to this process is damage to transportation networks, in particular waterways. To keep waterways safe, aids to navigation (ATONs) are placed in various areas to guide mariners and ships to their final destination. If the ATONs are damaged, then the waterways are left unsafe, making it difficult to move supplies and recover from a disaster. The aim of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of prepositioning strategies for port recovery in response to a natural disaster.Design/methodology/approach - A stochastic facility location model is presented to determine where teams and commodities should be prepositioned in order to maximize the number of ATONs repaired given a constraint on response time. The first stage decisions focus on determining the location of resources. The second stage decisions consist of the distribution of supplies and teams to affected areas.Findings - Results show the benefit of prepositioning and the value of coordination toward the responsiveness of restoring waterways. Furthermore, the relationship between resources, repair time, and response is characterized. Originality/value - There has been extensive work addressing prepositioning as it relates to responding to the needs of populations affected by disasters. However, little has been done to explore prepositioning in the context of business recovery from severe weather events.