Using OR to Support Humanitarian Operations: Learning from the Haiti Earthquake

PurposeBy drawing on commitment-trust theory, we examine the role of swift trust and distrust in supporting coopetition under conditions of uncertainty and interdependence in the setting of humanitarian disaster relief organisations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents findings from case studies of 18 international humanitarian relief organisations based on 48 interviews and the analysis of publicly available documents.FindingsWe find that both swift trust and swift distrust support coopetition. As coopetition is simultaneous cooperation and competition, in this study we show how swift trust and swift distrust also occur simultaneously in coopetitive contexts.Research limitations/implicationsCoopetition as a strategic choice is well-researched in the private sector, yet has received less attention in the nonprofit sector, particularly in contexts that are shaped by interdependence and uncertainty. We show the importance of swift trust and swift distrust in coopetitive relationships by drawing on commitment-trust theory.Practical implicationsIn focusing on a competitive environment in which cooperation is essential, we find limited choice of coopetitive partners. Humanitarian relief organisations must often simply work with whichever other organisations are available. We highlight how trust and distrust are not opposite ends of a spectrum and detail how both contribute to coopetitive relationships.Originality/valueOur findings contribute to commitment-trust theory by explaining the important role of distrust in forging coopetitive relationships. Furthermore, we contribute to prior work on coopetition by focusing on an uncertain and interdependent nonprofit environment.

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An Organized, Comprehensive, and Security-Enabled Strategic Response to the Haiti Earthquake

Anesthesia & Analgesia ◽

10.1213/ane.0b013e3181f42fd3 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 111 (6) ◽

pp. 1438-1444 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Maureen McCunn ◽

Michael A. Ashburn ◽

Thomas F. Floyd ◽

C. William Schwab ◽

Paul Harrington ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Haiti Earthquake ◽

Strategic Response

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Collaboration in Humanitarian Operations in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3827430 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Milad Keshvari Fard ◽

Felix Papier

Keyword(s):

Humanitarian Operations

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Exploring critical success factors (CSFs) of humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) in flood disaster management (FDM)

Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management ◽

10.1108/jhlscm-01-2021-0003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Isaac Sakyi Damoah

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Management ◽

Disaster Management ◽

Success Factors ◽

Flood Disaster ◽

Chain Management ◽

Content Type ◽

Humanitarian Operations ◽

Critical Success ◽

Humanitarian Supply Chain

PurposeThis study explores the critical success factors (CSFs) in humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) by focussing on flood disaster management (FDM) in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth semi-structured interview and questionnaire surveys in a sequential data collection approach were used to collect data from definitive stakeholders of humanitarian organisations. The data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factors analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques.FindingsSeventy-four factors were identified as success factors of HSCM of flood disaster management. However, 41 of these factors were statistically significant and considered as critical. In descending order, these factors relate to management practices, education and training, stakeholder involvement and cooperation, infrastructure, innovation and technology, materials and resources, administrative practices, socio-cultural and economic. Whilst some factors are internal to the humanitarian organisations, others are external factors that are beyond the control of humanitarian organisations.Research limitations/implicationsEven though this study offers empirical results that could guide policymakers in their decision-making about humanitarian operations, care needs to be taken since the data is within one country and within a specific disaster context – hence, policymakers need to consider the local contextual dynamics. Future studies could look at different disasters context to make a comparative analysis of various types of disaster operations.Practical implicationsInstitutions such as World Health Organization, Red Cross organisations and UN seeking to curbs global-warming-related disasters and the reduction of the effects of flood disaster can use findings as a guide during the formulation of HSCM policies and strategies.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies of humanitarian operations that focussed extensively on theoretical expositions, simulations, conceptual frameworks and models, this present study offers empirical evidence of humanitarian operations in the context of SCM. Further, by highlighting on the HSCM CSFs, this study contributes to disaster reduction and their effects on humanity in the context of FDM. This research could be used as guide by governments and FDM organisations to make informed decisions on SCM areas to focus the most during FDM.

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