Humanitarian logistics and supply chain management: the start of a new journal

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of the field of humanitarian logistics and supply chain management and outline the scope of the new Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management (JHLSCM). It further aims to highlight the variety of humanitarian logistics research and summarize the articles in the inaugural issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Results from an e‐mail survey with editorial board members are presented. The survey is used to further shape the scope of JHLSCM.

Findings

The journal draws on a variety of research streams in humanitarian logistics. This is seen as its richness but also as a challenge.

Research limitations/implications

Humanitarian logistics is an emerging field. There is still a lack of good empirical research and research with rigor as well as relevance. More research needs to be done in developing countries and by researchers from these.

Practical implications

Even though there has been collaboration between humanitarian and commercial organizations, there is also a need to establish humanitarian‐academic partnerships to improve training, education, as well as research – which should ultimately manifest itself in an improvement of practice.

Social implications

Humanitarian logistics research needs to rediscover its aim to serve beneficiaries.

Originality/value

This paper is an introduction to the inaugural issue of a new journal, JHLSCM.

Citation

Kovács, G. and Spens, K.M. (2011), "Humanitarian logistics and supply chain management: the start of a new journal", Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/20426741111123041