- Title
- On relief and supply chain similarities
- Creator
- Oloruntoba, Richard
- Relation
- 14th Annual Logistics Research Network Conference (LRN 2009). Proceedings of the 14th Annual Logistics Research Network Conference (Cardiff, Wales 9-11 September, 2009) p. 197-204
- Relation
- http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/carbs/conferences/lrn09/index.html
- Publisher
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK)
- Resource Type
- conference paper
- Date
- 2009
- Description
- Logistics and supply chain management (SCM) in the context of disaster preparedness and response is becoming an increasingly strategic area of concern for researchers, emergency organisations and governments. Several authors have likewise highlighted the importance of disaster logistics and disaster relief chain research in disaster response (van Wassenhove, 2006; Oloruntoba, 2005; Beamon and Balcik, 2008), and many practical and academic initiatives are ongoing e.g. the calls for papers on relief supply chains in mainstream logistics and SCM journals. Despite the increasing academic research focus on disaster logistics and relief chains; the majority of previous research in the area has mostly not been backed up by empirical data or observations. Most have no meaningful, organised and systematic framework like theory. Often, research in the area is based on anecdotal evidence and conceptual ideas, because empirical research in the field is difficult, and therefore rare. In fact, these limitations are not unexpected given that it is an emerging area of research. While many have recognized the differences between relief and supply chains, similarities have not been addressed in the literature. The available literature is dominated by a static approach that focuses on the operational, environmental, functional, and structural differences between disaster relief chains and commercial supply chains. Thus, the theme of the current literature appear to be largely characterised by the differences between commercially-oriented and disaster relief-oriented supply chains, and are almost the sole identifying characteristic feature of the relief logistics and disaster relief chain literature (Kovac and Spens, 2007). The above approach to research in the field may be unconsciously stifling the development of new and exciting research paths. Although, this paper fully acknowledges and accepts that there are differences between disaster relief chains and commercially-oriented supply chains (Oioruntoba and Gray, 2002; 2003), it is the opinion of the author that the requirement for further theoretical developments remains a key priority, despite the advances made by academic disaster logistics and relief chain research. It is time to reflect on where research in disaster logistics and relief chains will take us next, and to examine the extent to which current paradigms will adequately serve as a modelling and management tool for future perspectives in research and practice in the discipline. Therefore, this paper highlights the importance of looking beyond the differences between commercial supply chains and disaster relief chains as we seek evidence-based solutions to the challenges of disasters.
- Subject
- supply chain management; logistics; disaster preparedness; disaster response; disaster relief chains
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/919704
- Identifier
- uon:8958
- Identifier
- ISBN:9781904564317
- Language
- eng
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