Abstract
Purpose: The humanitarian supply chain (HSC) area is rich with conceptual frameworks with a focus on the importance of information and digital technologies (IDTs) applications. These frameworks have a limited scope in investigating and prioritizing barriers to IDTs adoption in HSCs. The present study thus identifies and prioritizes the barriers to IDTs adoption in
organizations involved in HSCs.
Design/methodology/approach: By using a literature review allied with expert discussions and a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, the study identifies and prioritizes a comprehensive set of barriers that organizations involved in HSCs may consider to improve IDTs adoption.
Findings: The study investigates five main barriers (strategic, organizational, technological, financial and human) interlocked with 25 sub-barriers impacting the level of IDTs adoption in organizations involved in HSCs. The findings indicate that strategic barriers are of greatest importance, followed by organizational, technological, financial and human barriers. The findings indicate the difference in ranking barriers influencing the adoption of IDTs in HSCs compared to the commercial supply chain.
Research limitations/implications: Although a three-step method adopted for this study is rigorous in terms of the way this research is conducted, it is essential to report that prioritization is based on the subjective opinions of the experts.
Practical implications: The findings aim to assist policymakers and practitioners in developing effective strategies to improve IDTs adoption in organizations engaged in HSCs. Moreover, the prioritization of barriers provides a systematic way to overcome any barriers to improve HSCs performance.
Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind that investigates and prioritizes the barriers to IDTs adoption in HSCs.
organizations involved in HSCs.
Design/methodology/approach: By using a literature review allied with expert discussions and a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, the study identifies and prioritizes a comprehensive set of barriers that organizations involved in HSCs may consider to improve IDTs adoption.
Findings: The study investigates five main barriers (strategic, organizational, technological, financial and human) interlocked with 25 sub-barriers impacting the level of IDTs adoption in organizations involved in HSCs. The findings indicate that strategic barriers are of greatest importance, followed by organizational, technological, financial and human barriers. The findings indicate the difference in ranking barriers influencing the adoption of IDTs in HSCs compared to the commercial supply chain.
Research limitations/implications: Although a three-step method adopted for this study is rigorous in terms of the way this research is conducted, it is essential to report that prioritization is based on the subjective opinions of the experts.
Practical implications: The findings aim to assist policymakers and practitioners in developing effective strategies to improve IDTs adoption in organizations engaged in HSCs. Moreover, the prioritization of barriers provides a systematic way to overcome any barriers to improve HSCs performance.
Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind that investigates and prioritizes the barriers to IDTs adoption in HSCs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 505-527 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Journal of Enterprise Information Management |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 23 Jan 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Mar 2023 |
Keywords
- Analytical hierarchy process
- Humanitarian supply chain performance
- Information Technology
- Fuzzy logic