study of humanitarian supply chains amin magh

42 Pages·2015·0.47 MB·English

INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS,
COORDINATION MECHANISM INITIATIVES,
AND PERFORMANCE: STUDY OF
HUMANITARIAN SUPPLY CHAINS

AMIN MAGHSOUDI

UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
2015
INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS,
COORDINATION MECHANISM INITIATIVES,
AND PERFORMANCE: STUDY OF
HUMANITARIAN SUPPLY CHAINS

By

AMIN MAGHSOUDI

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

February 2015
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank to my lovely family for supporting me and giving
me the strength, love, and encouragement to make a difference in this world. I
especially want to appreciate my beloved parents, Mohammad Hossein and Fatemeh,
who have always stood beside me and have helped me both financially and non-
financially inspiring me to complete the research. My sincere thanks also go to my
beloved brother, Emad, who has always motivated me during my study from
overseas. Moreover, I would like to thank to my other siblings, Dr. Akram, Ali, and
Elham for their inspiration.
Second, fulfilling the requirement of this thesis would have never been possible
without the continuous support of my supervisors. Surely, I am greatly indebted to
my main supervisor, Professor Suhaiza Zailani, for her kindness, wisdom and
keenness to introduce me the new stream research in the field of supply chain
management. Indeed, she has kindly guided me and reviewed my research work from
the begging upon the completion of the thesis.
I would also like to express my sincere thanks to my co-supervisors. Gyöngyi
Kovács, Erkko Professor in Humanitarian Logistics at Humanitarian Logistics and
Supply Chain Institute in Finland, who has provided continuous feedback and
invaluable advice throughout my study. Her constructive feedback has helped me
remedy the shortcomings of the thesis. Professor T.Ramayah, my second co-
supervisor, who provided knowledgeable support, especially in statistical parts
during my study.
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Third, my gratitude also goes to the academic and administrative staff in the
School of Management at Universiti Sains Malaysia, whom kind support I have
received over the past four years. In particular, my appreciation is extended to Prof.
Fauziah Md. Taib, the Dean School of Management, and all the PhD students
studying at PhD room in Building E47, who shared their knowledge and expertise
with me during completion of my thesis. I would also like to send my special thanks
and gratitude to Dr. Wilawan Jansri for her support and inspiration, which has
facilitated the completion of this thesis.
Finally, I would like to appreciate the humanitarian organizations that help me
to conduct interviews with their experts during the interview study. My special
thanks go to Mr Jeremy Francis as the logistics coordinator at IFRC, Mr Jasni as the
operations manager in Malaysian Red Crescent, and Mr Raja Manickam as the
logistic manager at Mercy Malaysia.
Again, thanks to all of you for encouraging me to complete this thesis.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................... iv
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................x
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. xii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................. xiii
ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................xiv
ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................xvi
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................1
1.2 Background of the study .....................................................................................4
1.2.1 Recent trend of the disaster ...........................................................................4
1.2.2 General view on humanitarian relief .............................................................7
1.2.3 Humanitarian relief clusters and actors .........................................................9
1.2.4 Supply chain in disaster relief ..................................................................... 11
1.2.5 Coordination challenges along the humanitarian supply chains ................... 13
1.3 Problem statement ............................................................................................. 14
1.4 Research questions ............................................................................................ 19
1.5 Research objectives ........................................................................................... 19
1.6 Scope of the study ............................................................................................. 20
1.7 Significance of the study ................................................................................... 24
1.8 Contributions of the study ................................................................................. 26
1.8.1 Theoretical contributions ............................................................................ 26
1.8.2 Practical contributions ................................................................................ 29
1.8.3 Methodological contribution ....................................................................... 31
1.9 Definitions of key terms .................................................................................... 32
1.10 Organization of the thesis ................................................................................ 36
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Chapter overview .............................................................................................. 38
2.2 The emergence of humanitarian supply chain management ............................... 38
2.2.1 Humanitarian supply chains along the phases of a disaster .......................... 43
2.2.2 Humanitarian versus commercial supply chain ........................................... 46
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2.2.2.1 Unpredictability ................................................................................... 51
2.2.2.2 Diversity of actors ............................................................................... 53
2.2.2.3 Resource scarcity and redundancy ....................................................... 53
2.2.3 Humanitarian supply chains from network view ......................................... 54
2.3 Coordination ..................................................................................................... 57
2.3.1 Coordination from SCM perspective .......................................................... 60
2.3.2 Importance of coordination in humanitarian supply chains ......................... 62
2.3.3 Coordination mechanism initiatives in SCM research ................................. 67
2.3.4 Relevance of coordination mechanism initiatives to HSCM ........................ 71
2.4 Review and analysis of coordination mechanism studies ................................... 79
2.4.1 Resource sharing ........................................................................................ 84
2.4.2 Standardization........................................................................................... 89
2.4.3 Informal coordination ................................................................................. 92
2.4.4 Incentive alignment .................................................................................... 96
2.4.5 Synchronization ......................................................................................... 99
2.5 Inter-organizational factors ............................................................................. 101
2.5.1 Perceived interdependence ....................................................................... 102
2.5.1.1 Activity interdependence ................................................................... 106
2.5.1.2 Resource interdependence ................................................................. 109
2.5.2 Supply chain visibility .............................................................................. 110
2.5.3 Complementarity ...................................................................................... 113
2.6 Humanitarian supply chain performance ......................................................... 114
2.6.1 Operational perspective ............................................................................ 118
2.6.2 Accountability perspective ....................................................................... 124
2.7 Underlying theories ......................................................................................... 126
2.7.1 Social network theory ............................................................................... 128
2.7.2 Interdependence theory ............................................................................ 132
2.7.3 Contingency theory .................................................................................. 134
2.8 Conceptual model of the study ........................................................................ 135
2.9 Hypothesis development ................................................................................. 137
2.9.1 Perceived interdependence and coordination mechanism initiatives .......... 137
2.9.1.1 Activity interdependence and resource sharing .................................. 139
2.9.1.2 Resource interdependence and resource sharing ................................. 140
2.9.1.3 Activity interdependence and standardization .................................... 142
2.9.1.4 Resource interdependence and standardization .................................. 142
2.9.1.5 Activity interdependence and informal coordination .......................... 143
2.9.1.6 Resource interdependence and informal coordination ........................ 144
2.9.1.7 Activity interdependence and incentive alignment ............................. 145
2.9.1.8 Resource interdependence and incentive alignment............................ 146
2.9.1.9 Activity interdependence and synchronization ................................... 146
2.9.1.10 Resource interdependence and synchronization................................ 147
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2.9.2 Supply chain visibility and coordination mechanism initiatives ................ 148
2.9.2.1 Supply chain visibility and resource sharing ...................................... 149
2.9.2.2 Supply chain visibility and standardization ........................................ 150
2.9.2.3 Supply chain visibility and informal coordination .............................. 151
2.9.2.4 Supply chain visibility and incentive alignment ................................. 151
2.9.2.5 Supply chain visibility and synchronization ....................................... 152
2.9.3 Complementarity and coordination mechanism initiatives ........................ 153
2.9.3.1 Complementarity and resource sharing .............................................. 154
2.9.3.2 Complementarity and standardization ................................................ 154
2.9.3.3 Complementarity and informal coordination ...................................... 155
2.9.3.4 Complementarity and incentive alignment ......................................... 156
2.9.3.5 Complementarity and synchronization ............................................... 156
2.9.4 Coordination mechanism initiatives and humanitarian supply chain
performance ............................................................................................. 157
2.9.4.1 Resource sharing and humanitarian supply chain performance ........... 159
2.9.4.2 Standardization and humanitarian supply chain performance ............. 160
2.9.4.3 Informal coordination and humanitarian supply chain performance ... 162
2.9.4.4 Incentive alignment and humanitarian supply chain performance ....... 163
2.9.4.5 Synchronization and humanitarian supply chain performance ............ 164
2.9.5 Moderating effect of characteristics of relief environment ........................ 165
2.9.5.1 Moderating effect of unpredictability on the relationship between
resource sharing and humanitarian supply chain performance ............ 166
2.9.5.2 Moderating effect of unpredictability on the relationship between
standardization and humanitarian supply chain performance .............. 166
2.9.5.3 Moderating effect of unpredictability on the relationship between
informal coordination and humanitarian supply chain performance .... 167
2.9.5.4 Moderating effect of unpredictability on the relationship between
incentive alignment and humanitarian supply chain performance ....... 167
2.9.5.5 Moderating effect of unpredictability on the relationship between
synchronization and humanitarian supply chain performance ............. 168
2.9.5.6 Moderating effect of diversity of actors on the relationship between
resource sharing and humanitarian supply chain performance ............ 169
2.9.5.7 Moderating effect of diversity of actors on the relationship between
standardization and humanitarian supply chain performance .............. 170
2.9.5.8 Moderating effect of diversity of actors on the relationship between
informal coordination and humanitarian supply chain performance .... 170
2.9.5.9 Moderating effect of diversity of actors on the relationship between
incentive alignment and humanitarian supply chai performance ......... 171
2.9.5.10 Moderating effect of diversity of actors on the relationship between
synchronization and humanitarian supply chain performance ........... 171
2.9.5.11 Moderating effect of resource scarcity/redundancy on the relationship
between resource sharing and performance ...................................... 172
2.9.5.12 Moderating effect of resource scarcity/redundancy on the relationship
between standardization and performance ........................................ 173
2.9.5.13 Moderating effect of resource scarcity/redundancy on the relationship
between informal coordination and performance .............................. 173
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2.9.5.14 Moderating effect of resource scarcity/redundancy on the relationship
between incentive alignment and performance ................................. 174
2.9.5.15 Moderating effect of resource scarcity/redundancy on the relationship
between synchronization and performance ....................................... 174
2.10 Control Variables .......................................................................................... 175
2.11 Summary of chapter ...................................................................................... 176
CHAPTER 3 INTERVIEW STUDY
3.1 Chapter overview ............................................................................................ 177
3.2 Interviews ....................................................................................................... 177
3.2.1 First set of interview ................................................................................. 180
3.2.2 Second set of interview ............................................................................ 183
3.2.2.1 Interview B ........................................................................................ 184
3.2.2.2 Interview C ........................................................................................ 186
3.3 The major findings of the interviews ............................................................... 189
3.4 Summary of the chapter .................................................................................. 192
CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.1 Chapter overview ............................................................................................ 193
4.2 Philosophical worldviews ................................................................................ 193
4.3 Methodological approach of the study ............................................................. 196
4.4 Population and sampling procedure ................................................................. 198
4.5 Questionnaire design ....................................................................................... 201
4.6 Content validity............................................................................................... 202
4.7 Research instrument ........................................................................................ 204
4.7.1 Instrument for the inter-organizational factors .......................................... 204
4.7.1.1 Measurement items of perceived interdependence ............................. 204
4.7.1.2 Measurement items of supply chain visibility .................................... 207
4.7.1.3 Measurement items of complementarity............................................. 208
4.7.2 Instrument for the coordination mechanism initiatives .............................. 209
4.7.2.1 Measurements items of resource sharing ............................................ 209
4.7.2.2 Measurement items of standardization ............................................... 210
4.7.2.3 Measurement items of informal coordination ..................................... 211
4.7.2.4 Measurement items of incentive alignment ........................................ 212
4.7.2.5 Measurement item of synchronization................................................ 213
4.7.3 Measurement items of humanitarian supply chain performance ................ 214
4.7.4 Instrument for the moderating variable ..................................................... 215
4.7.4.1 Measurement items of unpredictability .............................................. 215
4.7.4.2 Measurement item of diversity of actors ............................................ 216
4.7.4.3 Measurement items of resource scarcity/redundancy .......................... 216
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4.8 Statistical analysis techniques ......................................................................... 217
4.8.1 PLS path modelling .................................................................................. 218
4.8.1.1 Assessing reflective measurement models .......................................... 221
4.8.1.2 Assessing formative measurement models ......................................... 222
4.8.1.3 Assessing structural model................................................................. 223
4.8.2 Test of differences .................................................................................... 226
4.9 Summary of chapter ........................................................................................ 226
CHAPTER 5 ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
5.1 Chapter Overview ........................................................................................... 227
5.2 Response rate .................................................................................................. 227
5.2.1 Missing data ............................................................................................. 228
5.2.2 Outliers .................................................................................................... 229
5.2.3 Data distribution ....................................................................................... 229
5.3 Profiles of sample organizations and respondents ............................................ 230
5.4 Assessment of survey bias ............................................................................... 235
5.4.1 Non-response bias .................................................................................... 235
5.4.2 Common method variance ........................................................................ 237
5.5 Descriptive analysis ........................................................................................ 238
5.5.1 Descriptive analysis for the inter-organizational factors ............................ 238
5.5.2 Descriptive analysis of coordination mechanism initiatives and humanitarian
supply chain performance ......................................................................... 241
5.6 PLS-SEM analysis .......................................................................................... 247
5.6.1 Assessment of measurement model .......................................................... 247
5.6.1.1 Assessment of reflective measurements for first-order constructs ....... 248
5.6.1.2 Assessment of reflective measurements for second-order constructs .. 257
5.6.1.3 Assessment of formative measurements for second-order constructs .. 260
5.6.2 Revised conceptual model and hypotheses of the study ............................ 262
5.6.3 Assessment of structural model ................................................................ 266
5.6.3.1 Collinearity assessment...................................................................... 267
5.6.3.2. Structural model path coefficient ...................................................... 268
5.6.3.3 Moderating effects ............................................................................. 271
5.6.3.4 Coefficient of determination .............................................................. 275
5.7 Results of hypotheses ...................................................................................... 281
5.8 Summary ........................................................................................................ 283
CHAPTER 6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
6.1 Chapter overview ............................................................................................ 284
6.2 Recapitulation of the findings .......................................................................... 284
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6.3 Discussion....................................................................................................... 286
6.3.1 The relationship between the inter-organizational factors and coordination
mechanism initiatives ............................................................................... 287
6.3.1.1 Total perceived interdependence and resource sharing ....................... 288
6.3.1.2 Total perceived interdependence and standardization ......................... 290
6.3.1.3 Total perceived interdependence and informal coordination ............... 291
6.3.1.4 Total perceived interdependence and incentive alignment .................. 293
6.3.1.5 Total perceived interdependence and synchronization ........................ 294
6.3.1.6 Supply chain visibility and resource sharing ...................................... 295
6.3.1.7 Supply chain visibility and standardization ........................................ 297
6.3.1.8 Supply chain visibility and informal coordination .............................. 298
6.3.1.9 Supply chain visibility and incentive alignment ................................. 299
6.3.1.10 Supply chain visibility and synchronization ..................................... 300
6.3.1.11 Complementarity and resource sharing ............................................ 301
6.3.1.12 Complementarity and standardization .............................................. 302
6.3.1.13 Complementarity and informal coordination .................................... 304
6.3.1.14 Complementarity and incentive alignment ....................................... 305
6.3.1.15 Complementarity and synchronization ............................................. 306
6.3.2 The relationship between coordination mechanism initiatives and
humanitarian supply chain performance................................................... 307
6.3.2.1 Resource sharing and humanitarian supply chain performance ........... 308
6.3.2.2 Standardization and humanitarian supply chain performance ............. 309
6.3.2.3 Informal coordination and humanitarian supply chain performance ... 310
6.3.2.4 Incentive alignment and humanitarian supply chain performance ....... 313
6.3.2.5 Synchronization and humanitarian supply chain performance ............ 314
6.3.3 The moderating effect .............................................................................. 315
6.4 Contribution of the study ................................................................................. 318
6.4.1 Theoretical contributions .......................................................................... 318
6.4.2 Practical contributions .............................................................................. 323
6.4.3 Methodological contribution ..................................................................... 326
6.5 Limitations of the study ................................................................................... 327
6.6 Future research ................................................................................................ 331
6.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 334
REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 373
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Research Questionnaire .................................................................... 373
Appendix B: Copies of Transcripts from Interviews .............................................. 383
Appendix C: SPSS Outputs ................................................................................... 395
Appendix D: SmartPLS outputs ............................................................................ 410

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