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The value of fourth-party logistics services in the humanitarian supply chain

Hella Abidi (Institute for Logistics and Service Management (ild), FOM University of Applied Sciences, Essen, Germany AND Department of Information, Logistics and Innovation, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Sander de Leeuw (Department of Information, Logistics and Innovation, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands AND Department of Management, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK)
Matthias Klumpp (Institute for Logistics and Service Management (FOM ild), FOM university of Applied Sciences, Essen, Germany)

Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management

ISSN: 2042-6747

Article publication date: 7 April 2015

2590

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the value of fourth-party logistics (4PL) services in a humanitarian supply chain. Furthermore, it shows a framework for a fourth-party humanitarian logistics concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The research paper presents a framework of fourth-party humanitarian logistics based on the four core components described by Christopher (2005) which was evaluated with a nonlinear approach called analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP method explores qualitative and quantitative decision-making criteria in case of solving multi-attribute and complex problems. In total, seven experts from academia and practice have contributed to this research, resulting in a better understanding of the decisive needs of humanitarian supply chain actors for implementing and integrating a 4PL concept.

Findings

The research shows an increased value for humanitarian supply chain actors of establishing a 4PL concept. The results present a positive influence of 4PL in complex disasters environments and provide key drivers for increasing and simplifying collaboration between the humanitarian supply chain actors.

Research limitations/implications

Future research has to consider different disaster types and needs to further emphasize the added value for beneficiaries of implementing a 4PL concept in a humanitarian supply chain environment. Further research should preferably also consider case studies in order to analyse challenges, drawbacks and benefits of this concept (qualitative and quantitative factors) in a real-life humanitarian supply chain setting.

Practical implications

The research offers managerial insights into the use of a 4PL concept in the humanitarian supply chain environment to improve efficiency due to an improved collaboration between the humanitarian supply chain actors.

Originality/value

The research paper investigates an under-researched topic in the humanitarian supply chain environment. For humanitarian supply chain actors outsourcing their activities to a 4PL service provider could secure collaboration, increase service levels as well as efficiency and therefore create additional value.

Keywords

Citation

Abidi, H., de Leeuw, S. and Klumpp, M. (2015), "The value of fourth-party logistics services in the humanitarian supply chain", Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 35-60. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-02-2014-0010

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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