There has been tremendous interest in blockchain technology (BT) (also known as distributed ledger technology) around the globe and across sectors. Following significant success in the financial sector, other sectors, such as humanitarian sector, have started deploying BT at various levels. Although the use of BT in the humanitarian sector is in its infancy, donors and government agencies are increasingly calling for building BT-enabled swift-trust and more collaborative relationships among various humanitarian actors in order to improve the transparency and traceability of disaster relief materials, information exchanges and flow of funds in disaster relief supply chains. Our study, which is informed by organizational information processing theory and relational view, proposes a theoretical model to understand how BT can influence operational supply chain transparency (OSTC) and swift-trust (ST) among actors engaged in disaster relief operations. Our model also shows how BT-enabled ST can further improve collaboration (CO) among actors engaged in disaster relief operations and enhance supply chain resilience. We formulated and tested six research hypotheses, using data gathered from international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the help of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) database. We received 256 usable responses using a pre-tested survey based instrument designed for key informants. Our results confirm that our six hypotheses were supported. Our study offers significant and valid contributions to the literature on swift-trust, collaboration and supply chain resilience and BT/distributed ledger technology. We have also noted limitations of our study and have offered future research directions.

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Blockchain technology for enhancing swift-trust, collaboration and resilience within a humanitarian supply chain setting

An integrated approach to modeling the barriers in implementing green manufacturing practices in SMEs

Our study examines the literature that has been published in important journals on supply chain disruptions, a topic that has emerged the last 20 years, with an emphasis in the latest developments in the field. Based on a review process important studies have been identified and analyzed. The content analysis of these studies synthesized existing information about the types of disruptions, their impact on supply chains, resilience methods in supply chain design and recovery strategies proposed by the studies supported by cost–benefit analysis. Our review also examines the most popular modeling approaches on the topic with indicative examples and the IT tools that enhance resilience and reduce disruption risks. Finally, a detailed future research agenda is formed about SC disruptions, which identifies the research gaps yet to be addressed. The aim of this study is to amalgamate knowledge on supply chain disruptions which constitutes an important and timely as the frequency and impact of disruptions increase. The study summarizes and builds upon the knowledge of other well-cited reviews and surveys in this research area.

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Supply chain disruptions and resilience: a major review and future research agenda

This study intends to explore humanitarian supply chain management barriers (HSCMBs) and evaluate solutions for overcoming these barriers to improve humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) implementation. This study aims to evaluate the solutions to overcome HSCMBs using a hybrid framework that consists of fuzzy step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) and a fuzzy weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS). This study identifies 29 HSCMBs and 20 solutions to overcome these HSCMBs through a literature review and brainstorming session conducted among experts. Fuzzy SWARA is applied to compute the weight of HSCMBs and evaluate the relative importance of each HSCMB. Fuzzy WASPAS is applied to rank the solutions to overcome HSCMBs for efficient and effective HSCM implementation. The outcome of this study suggests that “Long term strategic planning for humanitarian operation” is the highest-ranked and most immediate solution, followed by “Collaboration, cooperation, and coordination among humanitarian supply chain actors” to overcome HSCMBs. Disaster relief aid agencies and stakeholders may focus on the solutions to overcome HSCMBs for effective humanitarian aid operations and to improve strategies of HSCM. This study helps humanitarian logisticians to formulate improved strategies for better operational performance in pre and post-disaster phases.

Evaluating solutions to overcome humanitarian supply chain management barriers: A hybrid fuzzy SWARA – Fuzzy WASPAS approach

As major disasters vary in both severity and incidence, making appropriate humanitarian responses critical, disaster relief supply chains increasingly incorporate both social and technical aspects ...

Exploring the role of power on procurement and supply chain management systems in a humanitarian organisation: a socio-technical systems view

Trust between partners, a key element enabling coordination across supply chains, has recently started gaining attention in humanitarian operations literature. Yet, empirical examination of this co...

Trust in humanitarian operations: a content analytic approach for an Indian NGO

Sustainability is fast emerging as the new paradigm of conducting business. With increasing focus on the environmental impact of firms’ operations, there is a need to understand the factors that drive green initiatives of firms. In this work, we aim to understand those factors by studying environmentally friendly initiatives of firms. Our observations, primarily based on the emerging economies of India and China, serve to provide an insight into fast-growing economies which also often face scrutiny for poor environmental performance. We observe and analyse common factors that determine firms’ green initiatives. The work aims to derive insights into environmentally friendly practices of firms in emerging economies and also provides directions for further research in green operations.

What Drives Firms Towards Green Initiatives?—An Emerging Economy Perspective

Documented cases of sustainable initiatives of firms show that green efforts in one market often have spillover effects on other markets. The critical question is, how do firms harness and respond to such market spillovers. To answer this, the paper examines two settings where, a firm operates in two different markets with spillovers and secondly, where it faces marketplace competition. Spillovers can be positive or negative. Using an analytical approach, the paper examines pricing and greening strategies of a firm in these scenarios, conducts market comparisons, and examines specific conditions where the firm may not invest in greening. The findings show that under the threat of spillovers from competitor’s green efforts, a focal firm increases its greening efforts and prices. Further, the absence of consumer green sensitivity in the primary market does not deter a firm from greening, if spillovers exist. Under negative spillovers, a firm can still invest in positive green efforts if the negative spillover effect is below a threshold. However, under competitive threat, a firm may lose competitive advantage as its competitor (with positive green spillovers), increases its greening efforts to compete in both the markets. • We analyze firms’ decisions under positive and negative market spillovers. • Environmental awareness’ absence is not a deterrent for greening under spillovers. • Firm can put positive green efforts if the negative spillover is below a threshold. • Facing competitor’s spillover threat, a firm increases its own green efforts and prices. 

Analyzing product greening spillovers in multi-product markets

The purpose of this paper is to identify various dimensions of green quality. It integrates the existing carbon footprinting technique with the eight dimensions of quality proposed by Garvin (1984, 1987). Apart from extending these concepts, it also proposes two new dimensions – traceability and standardization which are not explicitly considered by the above two.,Conceptual theory building is used to develop a framework consisting of three interrelated propositions which explain the underlying dimensions of green quality and provide a better understanding of the same.,Similar to the eight dimensions of quality proposed by Garvin, the authors propose various dimensions of green quality and develop three propositions around these dimensions. This conceptual framework is developed by integrating the works of traditional quality (specifically Garvin’s eight dimensions), emergent literature on green products and their attributes, carbon footprinting from environmental economics discipline by summarizing their common elements and contrasting their differences.,This research is one of the first studies that explore the dimensions of green quality of a product. Apart from discovering and exploring inherent greenness in Garvin’s eight dimensions of quality, the authors also discuss about two new dimensions – traceability and standardization.

What does “green quality” really mean?

In the recent upsurge in environmental concerns, business sustainability has become more prominent than ever. Organizations worldwide are expected to function sustainably, causing the least negative impact on the environment and promoting harmony among the firm, environment, and society. Most firms report their actions related to sustainability in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. This research aims to understand and analyze contemporary trends in CSR reports by Fortune 500 companies using text mining. It compares how the focus of sustainability reports varies across countries and industries along key dimensions of sustainability (i.e., environmental, economic, social, and government). Findings from the study suggest variations in the focus of sustainability reports based on various factors, such as country of origin and company size, sector, and tenure, on the Fortune 500 list. Thus, it helps to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s motivations for focusing on various dimensions of corporate sustainability.

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Prakash Awasthy

Papers

Trust in humanitarian operations: a content analytic approach for an Indian NGO

What Drives Firms Towards Green Initiatives?—An Emerging Economy Perspective

Analyzing product greening spillovers in multi-product markets

What does “green quality” really mean?

Leveraging Text Mining for Trend Analysis and Comparison of Sustainability Reports: Evidence from Fortune 500 Companies