Coordination mechanisms in humanitarian operations management: a conceptual model of a simulator and a proposal for a humanitarian logistics game

Abstract

Humanitarian supply chain management mainly involves logistics decisions that must be made before, during and after a disaster and is one of the standard challenges that relief agents must address. This study developed a conceptual model of an organizational simulator to analyse logistics decisions and proposed a humanitarian logistics game using this model that allows humanitarian relief managers and students to observe disaster scenarios and to experience in context decision making. Methodologically, bibliographic research served as the basis for developing the conceptual model and for proposing the game. Both the model and the proposed game were applied to two case studies involving relief efforts against hunger to validate their usage. The model’s viability and usefulness in training were validated, and its support for decision-making management in humanitarian operations was confirmed.

Keywords:
Humanitarian logistics; Disasters; Operations management; Business game; Humanitarian game