An integrated AHP-based scheme for performance measurement in humanitarian supply chains

Abstract

Purpose: In recent years, several performance indicators have been proposed in humanitarian supply chains (HSCs). Selecting the most relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) is challenging for some humanitarian organizations (HOs) because it involves a considerable amount of complexity and information overload which could lead to judgment biases in the decision-making process. Existing performance measurement studies lack critical analysis for prioritization of performance indicators. Since the process of KPIs selection and categorization is a complex, domain based and subjective process, a systematic guideline is needed. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated performance measurement scheme that can consolidate KPIs into an overall performance score based on the weighting of the performance indicators in HSCs. Design/methodology/approach: Data collection was based on questionnaire surveys and direct interviews with practitioners from international HOs. Findings: This paper proposes an integrated scheme based on balanced scorecard and analytic hierarchy process for performance evaluation of HOs. Research limitations/implications: The respondents were limited to the humanitarian logistics experts from Malaysian-based international HOs. Practical implications: The scheme enables the benchmarking of HOs’ performance that could be useful for decision makers in HSCs. Originality/value: This paper provides the ranking and prioritization of KPIs in HSCs. The approach presented in this paper enables an effective and integrated performance measurement in HSCs.