PurposeThis paper aims to further the understanding of planning and carrying out logistics operations in disaster relief.Design/methodology/approachTopical literature review of academic and practitioner journals.FindingsCreates a framework distinguishing between actors, phases, and logistical processes of disaster relief. Drawing parallels of humanitarian logistics and business logistics, the paper discovers and describes the unique characteristics of humanitarian logistics while recognizing the need of humanitarian logistics to learn from business logistics.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is conceptual in nature; empirical research is needed to support the framework. The framework sets a research agenda for academics.Practical implicationsUseful discussion of the unique characteristics of humanitarian logistics. The framework provides practitioners with a tool for planning and carrying out humanitarian logistics operations.Originality/valueNo overarching framework for humanitarian logistics exists in the logistics literature so far. The field of humanitarian logistics has so far received limited attention by logistics academics.

PurposeTo construct a framework for exploring and discussing the use of different research approaches – deductive, inductive and abductive – in logistics.Design/methodology/approachA review of research articles in three major logistics journals (International Journal of Logistics Management, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management and Journal of Business Logistics) from 1998 to 2002.FindingsRecognizes the dominance of deductive research in logistics, and the need for more inductive and, in particular, abductive research for theory development. Discusses the use of the abductive research approach in logistics.Research limitations/implicationsKeywords searches led to a small sample size; more thorough content analysis is needed to apply the findings from the constructed framework.Practical implicationsUseful source of information on the three different research approaches, their possibilities and implications for research.Originality/valueThe abductive research approach has not yet been discussed in logistics.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges of humanitarian logisticians with respect to different types of disasters, phases of disaster relief and the type of humanitarian organization. A conceptual model is constructed that serves as a basis to identify these challenges. Design/methodology/approach -The paper is based on a country as a case, namely Ghana. Structured and unstructured data are collected in a workshop with humanitarian logisticians, and complemented with presentations of humanitarian logisticians, as they perceive their challenges. Disaster statistics and country profiles are used as secondary data. Findings -The paper shows that some disasters defy a categorization between natural and man-made causes. Challenges of humanitarian logisticians depend not only on the disaster at hand, but also on the local presence of their organization. The most emphasized challenge is the coordination of logistical activities. Challenges can be managed better if attributing them to different stakeholder environments. Research limitations/implications -Applying stakeholder theory to logistics, this paper provides a greater understanding for the challenges of humanitarian logisticians. Practical implications -A stakeholder categorization of the challenges of humanitarian logisticians helps to find potential collaboration partners as well as to mitigate these challenges. Originality/value -Humanitarian logistics is a rather new field in logistics literature. What is more, there is a lack of empirical cases in the field. This paper proposes a conceptual model based on an actual empirical case.

Purpose -Based on a framework developed by Kovács and Spens, this paper seeks to assess the use of the three different research approaches in logistics research; discuss the use of different research methods within the three research approaches; find and discuss applications of the abductive research approach to logistics problems. Design/methodology/approach -Content analysis is used in order to categorize the different research approaches. While content analysis commonly uses smaller units such as paragraphs, sentences, words or characters, this study used entire articles as the unit of analysis. The scope of the review encompassed five years (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002) of articles in IJLM, IJPDLM and JBL. A total of 378 articles was reviewed and categorized. Findings -The findings of the study corroborate earlier studies regarding the main research approach used in logistics. Published logistics research is hypothetico-deductive, with a strong emphasis on using survey methods. Nevertheless, inductive as well as abductive research is gaining importance. However, most logistics articles do not explicitly discuss the research process, nor the approach used. Therefore, a call for more explicit statements of the research approach is suggested.Research limitations/implications -The review of the articles is limited to three main journals in the field. A more comprehensive view of research approaches could be obtained by broadening the review to include also other types of research. Practical implications -The paper provides a framework and guidelines to researchers for explicitly discussing the research approach used in logistics articles. Originality/value -The paper provides an overview of the research approaches used in logistics research.

Purpose -The aim of this article is to present current trends and developments in humanitarian logistics practice, research, and education, and analyze the gaps between these.The article serves as an update on previous literature reviews in humanitarian logistics.Design/methodology/approach -The article is primarily conceptual and develops a framework for analyzing trends and gaps between humanitarian logistics research, education, and practice. Data is compiled through keyword searches, publicly available bibliographies and websites of educational institutions as well as draws on material from practitioner workshops, tutorials, conference presentations and personal communication with practitioners and educators.Findings -Gaps are revealed in humanitarian logistics practice, research, education, as well as between these. Few education programs to date consider the skill needs of humanitarian logisticians but future trends in practice and research can be used to develop them further.More empirical and practice-near research is called for at the same time as there is a need for comparative analyses, generic models and theory building in humanitarian logistics.Research limitations/implications -Any attempt to grasp current trends in a field is delimited by a lack of overview of the activities of an abundance of humanitarian organizations and fragmented research communities. The article advocates a broader view and openness across organizations and disciplines.Practical implications -The gap analysis indicates trends but also gaps in humanitarian logistics practice and highlights the need to consider new societal pressures such as climate change and urbanization.Social implications -Humanitarian logistics is concerned with serving beneficiaries, thus their welfare is at the core of the discipline.Originality/value -Several articles have reviewed humanitarian logistics research before, but gaps between practice, research and education have not yet been addressed.