Using collaborative research methodologies in humanitarian supply chains
Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
ISSN: 2042-6747
Article publication date: 3 September 2019
Issue publication date: 5 December 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an existing collaborative research methodology process (Sabri, 2018), contextualise it for application in humanitarian supply chains and test it empirically.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on collaborative research methodology and humanitarian supply chain literature, the Sabri’s (2018) collaborative research methodology process is further developed to comprise eight phases of collaborative research contextualised for the humanitarian supply chain domain. The process is applied in a collaborative research case of academia–practitioner knowledge co-creation in a humanitarian supply chain setting, focussing on environmental sustainability improvement. The collaborative case analysis suggests a number of refinements to the elements of the process. This study undertook two cycles of academia–practitioner collaborative research.
Findings
In testing the process, a noticeable improvement in the collaboration among different humanitarian stakeholders was observed, leading to improved stakeholder management. The implementation improved the sustainability awareness and social inclusion of the affected population. Rurality, remoteness, security issues and resistance of field staff against change were among the main challenges for supply chain researchers to engage in collaborative research in the humanitarian domain.
Originality/value
The paper addresses the rigour‒relevance‒reflectiveness debate in the humanitarian supply chain domain. A collaborative research methodology process derived from action research is further developed using humanitarian literature, and then it is applied in a humanitarian logistics case focussed on environmental sustainability. The present collaborative research process facilitates engaged scholarship among the humanitarian stakeholders, as the researchers’ roles move from observatory to participatory knowledge broker.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The corresponding author sincerely thanks Professor Abraham B. (Rami) Shani at Politecnico di Milano for his instructive insights and mentorship on collaborative research methodologies.
Citation
Sabri, Y., Zarei, M.H. and Harland, C. (2019), "Using collaborative research methodologies in humanitarian supply chains", Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 371-409. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-06-2018-0041
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited