Humane Humanitarians : A Study of Personal Characteristics of Emergency Relief Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2017/v10i1/109100Keywords:
Competencies
, Disaster Management, Emergency Relief, Behavioral Model, Content AnalysisJ800
, L200, M53Paper Submission Date
, March 31, 2016, Paper sent back for Revision, August 10, Paper Acceptance Date, December 17, 2016.Abstract
Emergency relief workers have played a crucial role in every disaster management operation that has occurred so far, and the future is no different. The current study attempted to understand the different competencies of a humanitarian logistician as required by the relief organizations so that a comprehensive competency model can be build which shall support the personnel decisions in the future. To achieve this, a brief review of literature followed by content analysis of job advertisements was undertaken by 23 independent coders to understand the competencies required. The current study considered the underlying personal characteristics that contribute to the expected behaviors on the field. Fourteen personal competencies were derived, which were ranked based on the frequency weightages and a comprehensive competency model with behavioral indicators is presented in this study. The research also revealed that the personality traits of an individual also determine the effectiveness of his/her contribution in a relief operation.Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
References
Ahmed, S. (2005). Desired competencies and job duties of non-profit CEOs in relation to the current challenges: Through the lens of CEOs' job advertisements. Journal of Management Development, 24 (10), 913-928.
Alexander, D. (2003). Towards the development of standards in emergency management training and education. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 12 (2), 113-123.
Allen, A. M., Kovács, G., Masini, A., Vaillancourt, A., & Van Wassenhove, L. (2013). Exploring the link between the humanitarian logistician and training needs. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 3 (2), 129-148.
Balcik, B., & Beamon, B. M. (2008). Facility location in humanitarian relief. International Journal of Logistics, 11 (2), 101-121.5) Beamon, B. M., & Kotleba, S. A. (2006). Inventory modeling for complex emergencies in humanitarian relief operations. International Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications, 9 (1), 1-18.
Blain J., & Dodd, B. (1999). Administering SAP R/3: The HR-human resources module. QUE, Indiana.
Blanco, E., & Caplice, C. (2013). The leadership challenge: Keeping pace with the skills needed. Supply Chain Management Review, 17 (1), 20-27.
Borton, J. (2009). Future of the humanitarian system: Impact of internal changes (pp. 3-52). London: Feinstein International Center, Tufts University and Humanitarian Futures Programme, Kings College.
Boyatzis, R.E. (1982). The competent manager : A model of effective performance. New York, NY : John Wiley & Sons.
Carliner, S., Castonguay, C., Sheepy, E., Ribeiro, O., Sabri, H., Saylor, C., & Valle, A. (2015). The job of a performance consultant : A qualitative content analysis of job descriptions. European Journal of Training & Development, 39(6), 458 - 483.
Catts, R., & Chamings, D. (2006). Recognizing current competencies of volunteers in emergency service organizations. Journal of Workplace Learning, 18 (7/8), 451- 463.
Chang, W. W. (2005). Expatriate training in international nongovernmental organizations: A model for research. Human Resource Development Review, 4 (4), 440 - 461.
Cottrill, K., & Rice, J.B. Jr. (2013). The psychology of risk. Supply Chain Management Review, 17 (1), 10-11.
Cozzolino, A. (2012). Humanitarian logistics cross sector cooperation in disaster relief management. Heidelberg : Springer.
Diwan, P. (2007). A manual on disaster management. New Delhi : Pentagon Earth.
Fritz Institute. (2004). Humanitarian logistics conference - Africa region 2004. Proceedings. Retrieved from www.fritzinstitute.org/prgSC-HLCaf2004-proceedings.htm
Gupta, R. K. (2013). Core competencies : Concepts and relevance. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 6 (2), 48-54. DOI: 10.17010/pijom/2013/v6i2/59974
Gustavsson, L. (2003). Humanitarian logistics: Context and challenges. Forced Migration Review, 18 (6), 6-8.
Hayton, J. C., & Kelley, D. J. (2006). A competency - based framework for promoting corporate entrepreneurship. Human Resource Management, 45 (3), 407- 427.
Idris, A., & Soh, S. N. C. (2014). The relative effects of logistics, coordination and human resource on humanitarian aid and disaster relief mission performance. The South East Asian Journal of Management, 8 (2), 87-103.
Jahre, M., & Heigh, I. (2008). Does failure to fund preparedness mean donors must prepare to fund failure in humanitarian supply chains ? Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal, 9 (2), 44 - 54.
Kennan, M. A., Cecez-Kecmanovic, D., Willard, P., & Wilson, C. S. (2009). Is knowledge and skills sought by employers: A content analysis of Australian IS early career online job advertisements. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 15 (2), 169-190.
Kerka, S. (2003). Volunteer development: Practice application belief. ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Vocational Education, Columbus, OH.
Kovács, G., & Spens, K. M. (2009). Identifying challenges in humanitarian logistics. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 39 (6), 506 - 528.
Kovács, G., & Spens, K. M. (2011). Trends and developments in humanitarian logistics - A gap analysis. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 41(1), 32-45.
Kovács, G., & Tatham, P. (2010). What is special about a humanitarian logistician? A survey of logistic skills and performance. Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal, 11 (3), 32-41.
Kovács, G., Tatham, P., & Larson, P. D. (2012). What skills are needed to be a humanitarian logistician? Journal of Business Logistics, 33 (3), 245-258.
Krippendorff, K. (2012). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Pennsylvania : Sage.
Landis, J. R., & Koch, G. G. (1977). The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics, 77(A), 159-174.
Long, D. C., & Wood, D. F. (1995). The logistics of famine relief. Journal of Business Logistics, 16 (1), 213-229.
Lucia, A., & Lepsinger, R. (1999). The art and science of competency models: Pinpointing critical success factors in organizations. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Majewski, B., Navangul, K. A., & Heigh, I. (2010). A peek into the future of humanitarian logistics: Forewarned is forearmed. Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal, 11 (3), 4-19.
Mashni, A., Reed, S., Sasmitawidjaja, V., Sundhagul, D., & Wright, D. (2005). Multi - agency evaluation of tsunami response: Thailand and Indonesia. Final Report. Retrieved from http://www.alnap.org/pool/files/ecb/downloads/Tsunami_Thailand_Indonesia_Joint_Evaluation.pdf
Maspero, E. L., & Ittmann, H. W. (2008). Rise of humanitarian logistics. Researchspace. Retrieved from http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/handle/10204/3054
McCall, M., & Salama, P. (1999). Selection, training, and support of relief workers: An occupational health issue. British Medical Journal, 318 (7176), 113 - 116.
McClelland, D.C. (1973). Testing for competence rather than intelligence. American Psychologist, 28 (1), 1-14.
Osunde, C., & Mayowa, A. G. (2013). Effective leadership in times of organizational crises: The interplay of risk perceptions, trust, and diversity. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 6 (12), 18 - 25. DOI: 10.17010/pijom/2013/v6i12/60051
Partida, B. (2014). Supply chain talent development is a work in progress. Supply Chain Management Review, 18 (1), 55 - 57.
Perry, M. (2007). Natural disaster management planning. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37(5), 409- 433.
Pooley, J., & Dunn, S. C. (1994). A longitudinal study of purchasing positions: 1960-1989. Journal of Business Logistics, 15(1), 193-214.
Russell, T. (2005). The humanitarian relief supply chain, analysis of the 2004 South East Asia earthquake and tsunami (Unpublished Master's Thesis). Cambridge, MA. : Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Sohal, A. S. (2013). Developing competencies of supply chain professionals in Australia: Collaboration between businesses, universities and industry associations. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 18 (4), 429 - 439.
Tatham, P. H., Kovács, G., & Larson, P. D. (2010, May). What skills and attributes are needed by humanitarian logisticians - A perspective drawn from international disaster relief agencies (pp. 7-10). In, Proceedings of the 21st Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) Annual Conference, Vancouver .
Tatham, P., & Spens, K. (2011). Towards a humanitarian logistics knowledge management system. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 20 (1), 6 - 26.
Thai, V. V., Cahoon, S., & Tran, H. T. (2011). Skill requirements for logistics professionals : Findings and implications. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 23 (4), 553-574.
Thomas, A., & Mizushima, M. (2005). Logistics training: Necessity or luxury? Forced Migration Review, 22, 60 - 61.
Thomas, A.S., & Kopczak, L.R. (2005). From logistics to supply chain management. The path forward in the humanitarian sector. Fritz Institute, San Francisco, CA.
Tomasini, R. M. (2011). Helping to learn? Learning opportunities for seconded corporate managers. Journal of Global Responsibility, 2 (1), 46-59.
Tomasini, R., & Van Wassenhove, L. (2004). A framework to unravel, prioritize and coordinate vulnerability and complexity factors affecting a humanitarian response operation. Working Paper Series, INSEAD. Retrieved from http://centres.insead.edu/humanitarian-research-group/research-projects/documents/WP2004-41_Frameworktounravelhumanitarianresponseoperations.pdf
Van Wassenhove, L. N. (2006). Blackett Memorial Lecture. Humanitarian aid logistics: Supply chain management in high gear. Journal of Operational Research Society, 57 (5), 475 - 489.
Walker, P., Hein, K., Russ, C., Bertleff, G., & Caspersz, D. (2010). A blueprint for professionalizing humanitarian assistance. Health Affairs, 29 (12), 2223 - 2230.
Walton, R., Mays, R., & Haselkorn, M. (2011, May). Defining “fastâ€: Factors affecting the experience of speed in humanitarian logistics (pp. 1-10). In, Proceedings of the 8th international ISCRAM Conference.
Wouters, M., & Wilderom, C. (2008). Developing performance-measurement systems as enabling formalization: A longitudinal field study of a logistics department. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 33 (4), 488 -516.
Yogalakshmi, J. A., & Supriya, M. V., & Kirthana. (2016). Personality dispositions and their relationship with team cohesion. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 9(5), 24-32. DOI: 10.17010/pijom/2016/v9i5/92568