RAPID/Collaborative Research: Field Investigation on the Comparative Performance of Alternative Humanitarian Logistic Structures

这项快速反应研究补助金(RAPID)旨在研究太子港地震后出现的替代人道主义后勤结构的比较表现。2010年1月12日海地地震后的人道主义挑战提供了重要的教训，最终可能成为人道主义物流领域的分水岭时刻。值得注意的是，虽然一些重要的努力在向有需要的人分发物资方面出现了重大延误，但其他一些不为人知的行动却以极高的效率做到了这一点。了解解释成功程度的因素，并评估成功因素的可扩充性，可以为克服阻碍海地努力的那种挑战的人道主义后勤新模式打开大门。该项目寻求这些重要问题的答案。在这样做的过程中，工作队将以灾后头两周收集的数据为基础，用更多数据验证初步调查结果，并为将调查结果纳入支持救灾流程和行动的模型奠定基础。主要目标是：(1)确定初步拓扑结构，以及海地和支持这一努力的地区出现的替代人道主义后勤结构的基本特征；(2)收集对其效力水平、积极和消极特点、所提供的人力、业务覆盖范围和范围等的深入了解；(3)收集关于关键和非关键物资的实际流动及其随时间的动态模式的数据；这一项目将首次系统地描述重大极端事件发生后为支持救济/早期恢复工作而出现的替代人道主义后勤结构。通过这种表征产生的结果将：(1)加强对极端事件环境中的组织和组织的理论理解；(2)为这些不同方法的高级建模奠定基础。由于改进人道主义救济行动可以减少灾害中的人的痛苦和生命损失，解决这些问题具有国家和国际重要性。具体而言，该项目将：(1)促进关于人道主义后勤问题的多学科协作；(2)将学生纳入多学科和国际研究进程，特别重视招收任职人数偏低的学生；(3)产生将被纳入灾害和后勤课程的调查结果；(4)产生具有实际效益的调查结果，将广泛传播给从事人道主义后勤工作的组织，包括海地的利益攸关方。

This Grant for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) is intended to study the comparative performance of the alternative humanitarian logistic structures that emerged in response to Port au Prince earthquake. The humanitarian challenge following the January 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake provides important lessons that may end up serving as a watershed moment for the field of humanitarian logistics. Quite notably, while some prominent efforts experienced major delays in the distribution of supplies to the people in need, other unheralded operations did so with great efficiency. Understanding the factors that explain degree of success, and assessing the scalability of the successful ones, could open the doors to new paradigms of humanitarian logistics that overcome the kind of challenges that hampered efforts in Haiti. The project seeks answers to such important questions. In doing so, the team would build upon data collected in the first two weeks after the disaster, validate initial findings with additional data, and create the foundation for the integration of findings into models to support relief flows and operations. The main objectives are to: (1) to identify a preliminary topology, and the basic features of the alternative humanitarian logistic structures that have emerged in Haiti and in areas supporting the effort; (2) to gather insight into their level of effectiveness, positive and negative traits, manpower provided, coverage and extent of their operations, among others; (3) to gather data about the actual flows of critical and non-critical supplies, and their dynamic patterns over time; and (4) to document lessons learned, both positive and negative.This project would provide the first systemic characterization of the alternative humanitarian logistic structures that emerge in support of relief/early recovery efforts after a major extreme event. The findings produced by such characterization would: (1) enhance theoretical understandings of organizations and organizing in extreme event environments; and (2) set the stage for advanced modeling of these various approaches. Since improving humanitarian relief operations can reduce human suffering and loss of life in disasters, solving these problems is of national and international import. Specifically, the project will: (1) promote multidisciplinary collaboration on the humanitarian logistics problem; (2) integrate students to a multidisciplinary and international research process, with a particular emphasis on recruiting underrepresented students; (3) generate findings that will be integrated into disaster and logistics courses; (4) generate findings with applied benefits that will be broadly disseminated to organizations engaged in the practice of humanitarian logistics, including those stakeholders in Haiti.