The role of power on procurement and supply chain management systems in a humanitarian organisation: a conceptual framework

This paper investigates the role of power on procurement and supply chain management systems and the decision-making process of the purchasing function in a humanitarian organisation. The paper provides a conceptual framework along with a set of research schemes that depict how the role of power leverages the working of systems. The concept of power is central to understanding the processes and structures of the purchasing functions in procurement and supply chain strategies. However, the value of exploring power is to understand how behaviour is influenced within the decision-making process and establish how the different bases of power affect the performance of an organisation. We argue that there is a need to explore the reasons for the success and failure of the humanitarian supply chain. This study challenges the current theories of supply chain management practices in humanitarian aid within developing-country contexts. In this way, this research provides new insights into procurement and supply chain management practices in a humanitarian aid, where disasters create demands that cannot be met by domestic resources. Subsequently, the search of understanding the role of power is significant in the development and successful procurement and supply chain management strategies.