Skip to main content
Log in

Humanitarian supply chain: a bibliometric analysis and future research directions

  • S.I.: Design and Management of Humanitarian Supply Chains
  • Published:
Annals of Operations Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Humanitarian supply chain (HSC) has attracted enormous interest from both practitioners and academics lately, mainly because of its essential role in curbing the increase in human-made and natural disasters. Knowing what has been done in the field so far as to design a robust research agenda to tackle future HSC challenges is an important research objective. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the current level of research on the HSC. A search of documents dealing with HSC was realized in the Web of Science database, a world-leading publisher-independent global citation database. The search identified 1152 documents, and the data collected was analyzed by means of a bibliometric tool called Bibliometrix. Key findings are presented and discussed, followed by some potential future research avenues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdi, H., Klimpp, M., & DE Leeuw, S. (2013). Measuring success in humanitarian supply chains. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 2(8), 31–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal, S., Kant, R., & Shankar, R. (2019). Humanitarian supply chain management frameworks: A critical literature review and framework for future development. Benchmarking-an International Journal, 26(6), 1749–1780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agostinho, C. F. (2013). Humanitarian logistics: How to help even more? IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 46(24), 206–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akter, S., & Wamba, S. F. (2019). Big data and disaster management: A systematic review and agenda for future research. Annals of Operations Research, 283(1), 939–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altay, N., & Green, W. G. (2006). OR/MS research in disaster operations management. European Journal of Operational Research, 175(1), 475–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altay, N., & Pal, R. (2014). Information diffusion among agents: Implications for humanitarian operations. Production and Operations Management, 23(6), 1015–1027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bag, S. (2016). Humanitarian supply chain management: A bibiliometric analysis of the literature. AIMS International Journal of Management, 10, 101–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baharmand, H., & Comes, T. (2019). Leveraging partnerships with logistics service providers in humanitarian supply chains by blockchain-based smart contracts. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 52(13), 12–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baharmand, H., Comes, T., & Lauras, M. (2019). Defining and measuring the network flexibility of humanitarian supply chains: Insights from the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Annals of Operations Research, 283(1–2), 961–1000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balcik, B., Beamon, B. M., Krejci, C. C., Muramatsu, K. M., & Ramirez, M. (2010). Coordination in humanitarian relief chains: Practices, challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Production Economics, 126(1), 22–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balcik, B., Bozkir, C. D. C., & Kundakcioglu, O. E. (2016). A literature review on inventory management in humanitarian supply chains. Surveys in Operations Research and Management Science, 21(2), 101–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banomyong, R., Varadejsatitwong, P., & Oloruntoba, R. (2019). A systematic review of humanitarian operations, humanitarian logistics and humanitarian supply chain performance literature 2005 to 2016. Annals of Operations Research, 283(1–2), 71–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbarosoglu, G., Ozdamar, L., & Cevik, A. (2002). An interactive approach for hierarchical analysis of helicopter logistics in disaster relief operations. European Journal of Operational Research, 140(1), 118–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batistič, S., & van der Laken, P. (2019). History, evolution and future of big data and analytics: A bibliometric analysis of its relationship to performance in organizations. British Journal of Management, 30(2), 229–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behl, A., & Dutta, P. (2019). Humanitarian supply chain management: A thematic literature review and future directions of research. Annals of Operations Research, 283(1–2), 1001–1044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Besiou, M., Pedraza-Martinez, A. J., & Van Wassenhove, L. N. (2018). OR applied to humanitarian operations. European Journal of Operational Research, 269(2), 397–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhuvana, N., & Arul Aram, I. (2019). Facebook and Whatsapp as disaster management tools during the Chennai (India) floods of 2015. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 39, 101135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan, C., Sharma, A., & Singh, A. (2019). A SAP-LAP linkages framework for integrating Industry 4.0 and circular economy. Benchmarking: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-10-2018-0310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles, J. B., Zhang, J., & Zhuang, J. (2017). Bridging the research-practice gap in disaster relief: Using the IFRC Code of Conduct to develop an aid model. Annals of Operations Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-017-2488-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey, R., Altay, N. & Blome, C. (2019a). Swift trust and commitment: The missing links for humanitarian supply chain coordination? Annals of Operations Research, 283(1), 159–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey, R., Gunasekaran, A., Childe, S. J., Roubaud, D., Fosso Wamba, S., Giannakis, M., et al. (2019b). Big data analytics and organizational culture as complements to swift trust and collaborative performance in the humanitarian supply chain. International Journal of Production Economics, 210, 120–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey, R., Luo, Z. W., Gunasekaran, A., Akter, S., Hazen, B. T., & Douglas, M. A. (2018). Big data and predictive analytics in humanitarian supply chains: Enabling visibility and coordination in the presence of swift trust. International Journal of Logistics Management, 29(2), 485–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahimnia, B., Sarkis, J., & Davarzani, H. (2015). Green supply chain management: A review and bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Production Economics, 162, 101–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fosso Wamba, S., Akter, S., Edwards, A., Chopin, G., & Gnanzou, D. (2015). How ‘big data’ can make big impact: Findings from a systematic review and a longitudinal case study. International Journal of Production Economics, 165, 234–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fosso Wamba, S., Edwards, A., & Akter, S. (2019). Social media adoption and use for improved emergency services operations: The case of the NSW SES. Annals of Operations Research, 283(1), 225–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galindo, G., & Batta, R. (2013). Review of recent developments in OR/MS research in disaster operations management. European Journal of Operational Research, 230(2), 201–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grest, M., Lauras, M., & Montreuil, B. (2019). Toward humanitarian supply chains enhancement by using physical internet principles (pp. 1–6). Shanghai: International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management (IESM).

  • Haghani, A., & Oh, S. C. (1996). Formulation and solution of a multi-commodity, multi-modal network flow model for disaster relief operations. Transportation Research Part a-Policy and Practice, 30(3), 231–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hannah, R. & Max, R. (2020). Natural disasters. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/natural-disasters.

  • Kabra, G., Ramesh, A., Akhtar, P., & Dash, M. K. (2017). Understanding behavioural intention to use information technology: Insights from humanitarian practitioners. Telematics and Informatics, 34(7), 1250–1261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kokol, P., & Blažun Vošner, H. (2019). Historical, descriptive and exploratory analysis of application of bibliometrics in nursing research. Nursing Outlook, 67(6), 680–695.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, G. (2019). Research methods in humanitarian logistics. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 9(3), 325–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovács, G., & Spens Karen, M. (2007). Humanitarian logistics in disaster relief operations. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37(2), 99–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunz, N., & Reiner, G. (2012). A meta-analysis of humanitarian logistics research. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 2(2), 116–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landwehr, P. M., Wei, W., Kowalchuck, M., & Carley, K. M. (2016). Using tweets to support disaster planning, warning and response. Safety Science, 90, 33–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leiras, A., de Brito Jr, I., Queiroz Peres, E., Rejane Bertazzo, T., & Tsugunobu Yoshida Yoshizaki, H. (2014). Literature review of humanitarian logistics research: trends and challenges. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 4(1), 95–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maghazei, O., & Netland, T. H. (2018). Exploring the potential applications of drones in the petrochemical industry. In Proceedings of the 2018 Annual EurOMA Conference, Budapest, Hungary.

  • Merigó, J. M., & Yang, J.-B. (2017). A bibliometric analysis of operations research and management science. Omega, 73, 37–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, D., Gunasekaran, A., Papadopoulos, T. & Childe, S. J. (2016). Big Data and supply chain management: A review and bibliometric analysis. Annals of Operations Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-016-2236-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, D., Gunasekaran, A., Papadopoulos, T., & Hazen, B. (2017). Green supply chain performance measures: A review and bibliometric analysis. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 10, 85–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Natarajarathinam, M., Capar, I., & Narayanan, A. (2009). Managing supply chains in times of crisis: A review of literature and insights. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 39(7), 535–573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noham, R., & Tzur, M. (2018). Designing humanitarian supply chains by incorporating actual post-disaster decisions. European Journal of Operational Research, 265(3), 1064–1077.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oloruntoba, R., & Gray, R. (2006). Humanitarian aid: An agile supply chain? Supply Chain Management-an International Journal, 11(2), 115–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulos, T., Gunasekaran, A., Dubey, R., Altay, N., Childe, S. J., & Fosso-Wamba, S. (2017). The role of Big Data in explaining disaster resilience in supply chains for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 1108–1118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pateman, H., Hughes, K., & Cahoon, S. (2013). Humanizing humanitarian supply chains: A synthesis of key challenges. The Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics, 29(1), 81–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettit, S., & Beresford, A. (2009). Critical success factors in the context of humanitarian aid supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 39, 450–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pourebrahim, N., Sultana, S., Edwards, J., Gochanour, A., & Mohanty, S. (2019). Understanding communication dynamics on Twitter during natural disasters: A case study of Hurricane Sandy. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 37, 101176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Espíndola, O., & Beltagui, A. (2018). Can 3D Printing address operations challenges in Disaster Management? In Proceedings of the 2018 Annual EurOMA Conference, Budapest, Hungary.

  • Rousseau, R. (2014). Forgotten founder of bibliometrics. Nature, 510(7504), 218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachin, A., Ravi, K., & Ravi, S. (2019). Humanitarian supply chain management frameworks: A critical literature review and framework for future development. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 26(6), 1749–1780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahebjamnia, N., Torabi, S. A., & Mansouri, S. A. (2017). A hybrid decision support system for managing humanitarian relief chains. Decision Support Systems, 95, 12–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, D., Das, A., & Bera, U. K. (2020). Uncertain demand estimation with optimization of time and cost using Facebook disaster map in emergency relief operation. Applied Soft Computing, 87, 105992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savonen, B., Mahan, T., Curtis, M., Schreier, J., Gershenson, J., & Pearce, J. (2018). Development of a resilient 3-D printer for humanitarian crisis response. Technologies, 6(1), 30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaer, P. (2013). Applied informetrics for digital libraries: An overview of foundations, problems and current approaches. Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung, 38, 267–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shan, S., Zhao, F., Wei, Y., & Liu, M. (2019). Disaster management 2.0: A real-time disaster damage assessment model based on mobile social media data—A case study of Weibo (Chinese Twitter). Safety Science, 115, 393–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Summerfield, D. (1999). A critique of seven assumptions behind psychological trauma programmes in war-affected areas. Social Science and Medicine, 48(10), 1449–1462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sushil. (2017). Theory building using SAP-LAP linkages: An application in the context of disaster management. Annals of Operations Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-017-2425-3.

  • Tatham, P., Loy, J., & Peretti, U. (2015). Three dimensional printing—A key tool for the humanitarian logistician? Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 5, 188–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, A. S., & Kopczak, L. (2005). From logistics to supply chain management: The path forward in the humanitarian sector. Fritz Institute, 15, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallaster, C., Kraus, S., Merigó Lindahl, J. M., & Nielsen, A. (2019). Ethics and entrepreneurship: A bibliometric study and literature review. Journal of Business Research, 99, 226–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Oorschot, J. A. W. H., Hofman, E., & Halman, J. I. M. (2018). A bibliometric review of the innovation adoption literature. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 134, 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Wassenhove, L. N. (2006). Humanitarian aid logistics: Supply chain management in high gear. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 57(5), 475–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Singgih, M., Wang, J., & Rit, M. (2019). Making sense of blockchain technology: How will it transform supply chains? International Journal of Production Economics, 211, 221–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wanjantuk, P., & Banomyong, R. (2017). Bibliometric mapping of humanitarian logistics research. In The 9th international conference on logistics and transport. Bangkok, Thailand.

  • Web of Science. (2020). Confident research begins here. Published online at https://clarivate.com/. Retrieved from: https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/solutions/webof-science/.

  • Wu, D., & Cui, Y. (2018). Disaster early warning and damage assessment analysis using social media data and geo-location information. Decision Support Systems, 111, 48–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zary, B., Bandeira, R., & Campos, V. (2014). The contribution of scientific productions at the beginning of the third millennium (2001–2014) for humanitarian logistics: A bibliometric analysis. In F. G. Benitez & R. Rossi (Eds.), 17th Meeting of the euro working group on transportation, Ewgt 2014 (pp. 537–546). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Fan, C., Yao, W., Hu, X., & Mostafavi, A. (2019). Social media for intelligent public information and warning in disasters: An interdisciplinary review. International Journal of Information Management, 49, 190–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zorn, M. (2018). Natural disasters and less developed countries. In S. Pelc & M. Koderman (Eds.), Nature, tourism and ethnicity as drivers of (de)marginalization: Insights to marginality from perspective of sustainability and development (pp. 59–78). Cham: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samuel Fosso Wamba.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 11.

Table 11 Collaboration between countries on HSC

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fosso Wamba, S. Humanitarian supply chain: a bibliometric analysis and future research directions. Ann Oper Res 319, 937–963 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-020-03594-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-020-03594-9

Keywords

Navigation