Wir haben eine neue Leseempfehlung: "Outsourcing in humanitarian logistics – status quo and future directions" von Tim Gossler, Tina Wakolbinger und Christian Burkart

Abstract

Purpose - Outsourcing of logistics has great importance in disaster relief. Aid agencies spend several billion US dollars every year on logistics services. However, the concept of outsourcing has not been established adequately in literature on humanitarian logistics, leading to a fragmented view of the practice. This paper providesaholisticperspectiveoftheconceptbyconstructingaconceptual frameworktoanalyzebothpractice and research of outsourcing in humanitarian operations. Based on this analysis, we explore future trends and identify research gaps.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a structured review of academic literature, a tworound Delphi study with 31 experts from aid agencies and a complementary full-day focus group with twelve experts from aid agencies and logistics service providers.

Findings – The paper systemizes the current practice of outsourcing in humanitarian logistics according to a conceptualframeworkoffivedimensions:subject,object,partner,designandcontext.Inaddition,itrevealsten probable developments of the practice over the next years. Finally, it describes eight important research gaps and presents a research agenda for the field.

Research limitations/implications – The literature review considered peer-reviewed academic papers. Practitioner papers could provide additional insights into the practice. Moreover, the Delphi study focused on the perspective of aid agencies. Capturing the views of logistics service providers in more detail would be a valuable addition.

Originality/value – The paper establishes the academic basis for the important practice of outsourcing in humanitarianlogistics.

Gossler, T., Wakolbinger, T. and Burkart, C. (2020), "Outsourcing in humanitarian logistics – status quo and future directions", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 50 No. 4, pp. 403-438. )  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-12-2018-0400