A Systemic Approach to Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics
A Systemic Approach to Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics
Aimen Remida
Abstract With the purpose of drawing a general outline of a systemic approach,
which take into account the ecological, economic and social dimensions of sustainability
and simultaneously the increasing complexity of logistics systems within
disaster relief operations, the systems thinking paradigm is briefly introduced and
presented in a manner that emphasizes its adequateness and applicability in
Humanitarian Logistics (HL) research. The context of sustainable development in
general and the Triple-Bottom-Line (TBL) perspective in particular are considered as
substantial parts of the polycontextual environment of the sustainable HL-systems,
which are the objects of inquiry of Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL) as a
specific research field. The main principles of the suggested systemic approach are
described within an analysis which includes concrete application possibilities.
Introduction
Several challenges are urging the scientific community as well as the economic and
political players to consider the requirements of sustainable development in their
attempts to find appropriate solutions to the natural, social and technical complications
observed in the increasingly complex systems of disaster relief operations. Both
concepts of “sustainability” and “systems thinking” are subjects to controversial
interpretations. Nevertheless sustainability is itself systemic since it primarily aims to
ensure the conditions for the continued existence of the modern economic system in
which the negative impacts of the contradictions within this system are abolished or
compensated (Elling 2010).
In order to increase the ability of practice and research in Humanitarian Logistics
(HL) to deal with the complexity of the events and phenomena on the one hand and
the dynamics of the relationships between the involved stakeholders, who are acting
in vulnerable contexts with their corresponding changing requirements on the other
hand, a systemic approach is needed to emphasize the coextensive consideration of
different dimensions of sustainability in conceiving adequate responses to the
complex challenges of HL, so that a specific research field could be recognizable,
namely: Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL).
The systems thinking paradigm is offering the opportunity of taking into account
interdependent research questions at once by considering the contingent relationships
between the system’ elements, which could be various entities, belonging to
different ontological levels such as objects, organizations, natural and social multisided
constructs etc. This could present a promising starting point for dealing with
the raising complexity of today’s knowledge management in HL.
In this paper the concept of systems thinking as a scientific paradigm is briefly
initiated (Sect. 2.2). This occurs with an emphasis on the adequateness of systemic
approaches in managing the complexity of contemporary socio-technical systems in
general and HL in particular. The subsequent introduction of the concept of sustainable
development (Sect. 2.3), with the field of humanitarian aid as analogously
standing in the foreground, contributes deducing the main characteristics of sustainable
HL-systems. Finally, with regards to this general analysis of sustainability
in HL-systems, whereby interrelated requirements are influencing the efforts in
practice, research and education, three basic principles of a systemic approach to
SHL are identified (Sect. 2.4).
The Systems Thinking Paradigm
Historical and Methodological Insights
This section aims at presenting some relevant features of the systems thinking
paradigm in order to investigate to what extent it could be considered as an
appropriate set of tools in studying HL-systems in the context of sustainable
development. The word “paradigm” is used here to stress the epistemological
wholeness of the concept “system” beyond any restrictions made by predefined
scientific theorization. Indeed scientists can agree in their identification of a paradigm
without agreeing on, or even attempting to produce, a full interpretation or
rationalization for it (Kuhn 1970).
Systems thinking is deeply rooted in human civilizations: Cultural, intellectual
and scientific achievements from early Chinese, Egyptian and Greek polymaths and
philosophers (e.g. Imhotep, Confucius, Aristotle) to the contributions of the centuries
of Renaissance and Enlightenment (e.g. L. Da Vinci, F. Bacon) are witnessing
a systems-oriented cognitive tendency. It culminates in the 20th century
with the emergence of the General System Theory (GST) (e.g. L. von Bertalanffy,
Boulding, Rapoport) and Cybernetics (e.g. Norbert Wiener, Heinz von Foerster)
which accompanied the advances in several disciplines and allow the establishment
of new research fields and scientific paradigms with the related concepts and terminologies
[e.g., Systems Engineering (SE), Operation Research (OR)]. The pioneers
of these developments were basically scholars with a solid interdisciplinary
background: many of them were biologists and natural scientists with knowledge in
philosophy, psychology and social sciences. This is essential to grasp the multisided
perspectives of today’s complex systems which involve almost every aspect
of the human activities.
Beside the fact that it seems impossible to fix a genuine definition of the word “system”, one could assume with the founders of General Systems Theory that “a system can be defined as a set of elements standing in interrelations” (Von Bertalanffy 1968, p. 55). Going one step further, “an open system is defined as a system in exchange of matter with its environment, presenting import and export, building-up and breaking-down of its material components” (Von Bertalanffy 1968, p. 149). It follows that an extension of these definitions could lead to recognize the existence of three concepts which may be found in almost all systems perceptions since they show an unlimited semantic and functional interchangeability:
Some objects of study could also be seen as environments for systems; especially if
they are themselves social or cognitive systems.
Within a systemic approach to HL which pursues the objectives of sustainability
in the implemented methods of planning, execution and control, the focus
will be on various levels and affecting different aspects: the use of environmentally
sound equipment, items and transportation and storage systems during the interventions
is combined with the planning of social-oriented initiatives and strategies
for reconstruction and development assistance which are based on a long term
vision of economic prosperity. This requires an enlargement of the current
understanding of collaboration between stakeholders and an interdisciplinary orientation
in research and practice going far beyond logistics and supply chain
management.
Aimen Remida
 |
| Systemic Approach to Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics |
Abstract With the purpose of drawing a general outline of a systemic approach,
which take into account the ecological, economic and social dimensions of sustainability
and simultaneously the increasing complexity of logistics systems within
disaster relief operations, the systems thinking paradigm is briefly introduced and
presented in a manner that emphasizes its adequateness and applicability in
Humanitarian Logistics (HL) research. The context of sustainable development in
general and the Triple-Bottom-Line (TBL) perspective in particular are considered as
substantial parts of the polycontextual environment of the sustainable HL-systems,
which are the objects of inquiry of Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL) as a
specific research field. The main principles of the suggested systemic approach are
described within an analysis which includes concrete application possibilities.
Introduction
Several challenges are urging the scientific community as well as the economic and
political players to consider the requirements of sustainable development in their
attempts to find appropriate solutions to the natural, social and technical complications
observed in the increasingly complex systems of disaster relief operations. Both
concepts of “sustainability” and “systems thinking” are subjects to controversial
interpretations. Nevertheless sustainability is itself systemic since it primarily aims to
ensure the conditions for the continued existence of the modern economic system in
which the negative impacts of the contradictions within this system are abolished or
compensated (Elling 2010).
In order to increase the ability of practice and research in Humanitarian Logistics
(HL) to deal with the complexity of the events and phenomena on the one hand and
the dynamics of the relationships between the involved stakeholders, who are acting
in vulnerable contexts with their corresponding changing requirements on the other
hand, a systemic approach is needed to emphasize the coextensive consideration of
different dimensions of sustainability in conceiving adequate responses to the
complex challenges of HL, so that a specific research field could be recognizable,
namely: Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL).
The systems thinking paradigm is offering the opportunity of taking into account
interdependent research questions at once by considering the contingent relationships
between the system’ elements, which could be various entities, belonging to
different ontological levels such as objects, organizations, natural and social multisided
constructs etc. This could present a promising starting point for dealing with
the raising complexity of today’s knowledge management in HL.
In this paper the concept of systems thinking as a scientific paradigm is briefly
initiated (Sect. 2.2). This occurs with an emphasis on the adequateness of systemic
approaches in managing the complexity of contemporary socio-technical systems in
general and HL in particular. The subsequent introduction of the concept of sustainable
development (Sect. 2.3), with the field of humanitarian aid as analogously
standing in the foreground, contributes deducing the main characteristics of sustainable
HL-systems. Finally, with regards to this general analysis of sustainability
in HL-systems, whereby interrelated requirements are influencing the efforts in
practice, research and education, three basic principles of a systemic approach to
SHL are identified (Sect. 2.4).
The Systems Thinking Paradigm
Historical and Methodological Insights
This section aims at presenting some relevant features of the systems thinking
paradigm in order to investigate to what extent it could be considered as an
appropriate set of tools in studying HL-systems in the context of sustainable
development. The word “paradigm” is used here to stress the epistemological
wholeness of the concept “system” beyond any restrictions made by predefined
scientific theorization. Indeed scientists can agree in their identification of a paradigm
without agreeing on, or even attempting to produce, a full interpretation or
rationalization for it (Kuhn 1970).
Systems thinking is deeply rooted in human civilizations: Cultural, intellectual
and scientific achievements from early Chinese, Egyptian and Greek polymaths and
philosophers (e.g. Imhotep, Confucius, Aristotle) to the contributions of the centuries
of Renaissance and Enlightenment (e.g. L. Da Vinci, F. Bacon) are witnessing
a systems-oriented cognitive tendency. It culminates in the 20th century
with the emergence of the General System Theory (GST) (e.g. L. von Bertalanffy,
Boulding, Rapoport) and Cybernetics (e.g. Norbert Wiener, Heinz von Foerster)
which accompanied the advances in several disciplines and allow the establishment
of new research fields and scientific paradigms with the related concepts and terminologies
[e.g., Systems Engineering (SE), Operation Research (OR)]. The pioneers
of these developments were basically scholars with a solid interdisciplinary
background: many of them were biologists and natural scientists with knowledge in
philosophy, psychology and social sciences. This is essential to grasp the multisided
perspectives of today’s complex systems which involve almost every aspect
of the human activities.
Beside the fact that it seems impossible to fix a genuine definition of the word “system”, one could assume with the founders of General Systems Theory that “a system can be defined as a set of elements standing in interrelations” (Von Bertalanffy 1968, p. 55). Going one step further, “an open system is defined as a system in exchange of matter with its environment, presenting import and export, building-up and breaking-down of its material components” (Von Bertalanffy 1968, p. 149). It follows that an extension of these definitions could lead to recognize the existence of three concepts which may be found in almost all systems perceptions since they show an unlimited semantic and functional interchangeability:
- The environment: is designing the realms outside of the system. The relations of the system with its environment indicate to which extent the system is called an open or a closed system.
- The subsystem: is a part of the system which could be considered either as an element (in a bottom-up approach) or as a system itself (in a top-down approach).
- The element: is the basic component of a subsystem (or a system).
Some objects of study could also be seen as environments for systems; especially if
they are themselves social or cognitive systems.
Within a systemic approach to HL which pursues the objectives of sustainability
in the implemented methods of planning, execution and control, the focus
will be on various levels and affecting different aspects: the use of environmentally
sound equipment, items and transportation and storage systems during the interventions
is combined with the planning of social-oriented initiatives and strategies
for reconstruction and development assistance which are based on a long term
vision of economic prosperity. This requires an enlargement of the current
understanding of collaboration between stakeholders and an interdisciplinary orientation
in research and practice going far beyond logistics and supply chain
management.
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