News
| 24.10.2023

Doctoral thesis: The 'Lego Approach' helps to deliver humanitarian aid better

The world of humanitarian aid faces unpredictable challenges, often necessitating swift and efficient solutions. Much like constructing a masterpiece from Lego blocks, there's a need to ensure each component of the supply chain is adaptable and precise, ready to face varying needs.

In her doctoral thesis, Process Modularity in Humanitarian Supply Chains, Félicia Saïah compares the adaptability of Lego blocks to the dynamic capabilities of process modularity. Just as Lego blocks can be reconfigured to create diverse structures, process modularity allows humanitarian organisations to restructure and adapt their supply chains, making them more responsive to emergencies.

“We are now witnessing an alarming rise in crises in the world, from natural disasters to conflicts, and the need to optimise humanitarian aid delivery is pressing,” Félicia Saïah states. “Millions globally rely on timely and effective aid for their survival and health. This makes the pursuit of strategies that can streamline and enhance aid operations not just beneficial, but vital”, she continues.

In this context, process modularity offers a promising avenue to ensure that humanitarian organisations can meet these evolving demands, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most, when they most require it.

Saïah’s research explores how humanitarian aid supply chain process modules can be reconfigured based on emerging needs. Based on empirical findings and comprehensive analyses, we can see that process modularity enhances responsiveness of the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The research can help organisations who wants to improve their supply chain effectiveness and ensure that the aid they provide is in line with rapidly changing crisis environments.

With the global humanitarian landscape constantly evolving, breaking down the aid process into modules presents a promising path towards more responsive and effective supply chain management in times of crises.

Access the full thesis here: Process Modularity in Humanitarian Supply Chains..

The doctoral defence will be held on 27 October 2023 at 12.00 EEST at Hanken School of Economics.
Interested attendees can join via Teams.
Opponent: Professor Tina Wakolbinger, Wirtschafts Universität Wien (WU)
Chair: Associate Professor Diego Vega, Hanken School of Economics