Impact Of Effectiveness In Humanitarian Logistics Skills To Organisational Performance

Around the world,disasters are increasing due to various reasons.The requirement of efficient supply chains in a disaster are also becoming an ever increasing requirement with this trend of increasing disasters.Although there are some similarities to commercial logistics,Humanitarian Logistics(HL)is a subject that has evolved during the last two decades due to its unique differences.There are various aspects affect the humanitarian supply chains.People working for the supply chains are one of the key features that can influence the efficiency and effectiveness.However,there is limited research conducted to find the influence human resources have on supply chains in humanitarian arena.Accordingly,this research was carried out to find the skills required by humanitarian logisticians and the effectiveness of such skills to individual and organisational performances in humanitarian landscape to fulfil the research gap.A conceptual model was developed according to literature and various statistical methods were used in approving the hypotheses developed from those earlier established research findings and theories.Thereafter,an empirical research was conducted by using a convenient sample which consisted of large number of humanitarian logisticians that represented governmental and nongovernmental organisations from all across Sri Lanka.It was established that there is a relationship between individual and organisational performances.Consideration must be given to the humanitarian logisticians who have the right skills.There are many other theoretical,societal and practical implementations that can be adopted from the findings of this research.This research will expect to assist the HL sector in the following areas;· Availability of KPIs to measure the performances of individuals as well as organisations will enable donors to have an assurance that their aid is being channelled to the right cause.· This will open avenues for new research in the field of humanitarian logistics.· Top managers in humanitarian supply chains can streamline the strategic orientation by finding personnel with the right skill sets to be employed.· Assist training institutions in the preparation of HL training plans and curricula that are in line with the identified skills.· HL organisations can also make use of this model to develop Job Descriptions,Balanced Score Cards and Job Advertisements in the Humanitarian sector towards improved effectiveness and efficiency.· Individuals who are employed in the sector should use these findings for careerplanning and development in light of the unique importance of this life-saving profession.· Humanitarian organisations can use the KPIs describes to measure their performances.· Increase effectiveness with the right skills of the humanitarian logisticians will reduce the wastage and also reduce the lead times of supply chains.· Objectively,the humanitarian logisticians with right skills will enable to reduce the suffering of the victims as expected by the definition of HL.Finally,the author recommends that this model be tested in other regions and disasters in order to confirm the applicability for a larger acceptance of the models presented.