Disaster management in Bangladesh: developing an effective emergency supply chain network

Mahmud Akhter Shareef,Mohammad Mahboob Rahman,Hatice Kizgin,Angela Wright,Rafeed Mahmud,Yogesh K. Dwivedi,Nripendra P. Rana

doi:10.1007/s10479-018-3081-y

Mahmud Akhter Shareef, Mohammad Mahboob Rahman + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-018-3081-y

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Abstract

This study has addressed and identified the problems in managing the existing emergency supply chain of Bangladesh in all phases of operation in terms of the primary drivers of the supply chain. It has also attempted to conceptualize and suggest an effective emergency supply chain. In this context, a thorough field investigation in several districts was conducted among the employees of the organizations sharing common information with similar protocols and implications (interoperable). Information was collected from the employees of all the participating organizations involved in disaster management through a semi-structured questionnaire based survey. The respondents addressed and illustrated several interconnected reasons which are inhibiting proper forecasting, procurement, storage, identification of affected people, and distribution. The respondents pointed out that the mismatching of objectives in the different organizations resulted in non-interoperability among the participating organizations. These issues are related to the malfunctioning of management with multidimensional organizational conflicts. Reflecting those issues, an emergency supply chain for disaster management is proposed in this study.

Highlights

During any natural or manmade disaster, different local and foreign donor agencies, Non-government organizations (NGOs), organizations of United Nations and government organizations try to maintain an effective supply chain to provide shelter and relief to the affected people
Several scholarly research studies have explored, in this connection, many technological, organizational, and supply chain factors to develop a comprehensive model of effective emergency disaster management (Bozarth and Handfield 2015; Dubey et al 2015; Dwivedi et al 2017; Ekanayake et al 2013; Jabbour et al 2017a; Kovács and Spens 2011; Shibin et al 2017c; Van Wassenhove 2006)
The emergency supply chain management of the Bangladeshi government should customarily be engaged in managing the entire network and be key stakeholders in storing relief items, estimating damages and number of people affected, distributing food and non-food items and other necessary supporting services, and answering the requirements of distressed people during and after any disaster

Summary

Introduction

During any natural or manmade disaster, different local and foreign donor agencies, NGOs, organizations of United Nations and government organizations try to maintain an effective supply chain to provide shelter and relief to the affected people. Several scholarly research studies have explored, in this connection, many technological, organizational, and supply chain factors to develop a comprehensive model of effective emergency disaster management (Bozarth and Handfield 2015; Dubey et al 2015; Dwivedi et al 2017; Ekanayake et al 2013; Jabbour et al 2017a; Kovács and Spens 2011; Shibin et al 2017c; Van Wassenhove 2006) These issues have substantially highlighted the effectiveness of supply chain management, the roles of participating organizations, interoperability among them, networking, the utilization of information and communication technology management in monitoring and forecasting a disaster, and, the attitude and performance of the relief workers in managing these activities properly and timely

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