Tickle, Matthew 
ORCID: 0000-0003-4709-7869, Schiffling, Sarah and Verma, Gaurav
(2024)
Enhancing AAA capabilities in humanitarian supply chains through 4PL adoption.
Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 14 (4).
pp. 445-469.
ISSN 2042-6747, 2042-6755
|
PDF
Published article - Enhancing AAA capabilities in humanitarian supply chains through 4PL adoption.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (792kB) | Preview |
Abstract
<jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>This paper aims to explore the impact of fourth-party logistics (4PL) adoption on the agility, adaptability and alignment (AAA) capabilities within humanitarian supply chains (HSCs).</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title> <jats:p>Semi-structured interviews with individuals from a large non-government organisation were combined with secondary data to assess the influence of 4PL adoption on AAA capabilities in HSCs.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>The results indicate that HSCs exhibit some of the AAA antecedents but not all are fully realised. While 4PL positively affects the AAA capabilities of HSCs, its adoption faces challenges such as the funding environment, data security/confidentiality and alignment with humanitarian principles. The study suggests an AAA antecedent realignment, positioning alignment as a precursor to agility and adaptability. It also identifies three core antecedents in HSCs: flexibility, speed and environmental uncertainty.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Practical implications</jats:title> <jats:p>The study shows the positive impact 4PL adoption can have on the AAA capabilities of HSCs. The findings have practical relevance for those wishing to optimise HSC performance through 4PL adoption, by identifying the inhibiting factors to its adoption as well as strategies to address them.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title> <jats:p>This research empirically explores 4PL’s impact on AAA capabilities in HSCs, highlighting the facilitating and hindering factors of 4PL adoption in this environment as well as endorsing a realignment of AAA antecedents. It also contributes to the growing research on SC operations in volatile settings.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 3509 Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chains, 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, Generic health relevance |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Management |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 21 May 2024 07:58 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Apr 2025 11:30 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/jhlscm-11-2023-0110 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3181769 |
Altmetric
Altmetric