Title: Disaster response supply chain in a city: the role of SMEs

Authors: Alocate Zvikaramba; Sergey V. Kruglikov; Tafadzwa Zimucha; More Chinakidzwa

Addresses: E-Commerce Department, Harare Institute of Technology, Zimbabwe ' Academic Department of Controlled Systems Modelling, Ural Federal University, Russia ' E-Commerce Department, Harare Institute of Technology, Zimbabwe ' E-Commerce Department, Harare Institute of Technology, Zimbabwe

Abstract: World disasters have increased in the last decade. Given that 60% of the world population lives in cities, disaster risk reduction in towns is now a priority. We review the role of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in disaster response. Traditionally, SMEs were seen as more susceptible to disasters due to lack of resources. Hence, large firms alone could contribute to disaster recovery. SMEs' growing numbers, proximity to disaster victims and the need for social responsibility informed this review. Thus, a framework for SMEs and technologies for use in a disaster response supply chain (DRSC) are crafted. Our findings show that despite their vulnerability, SMEs have a greater, active ancillary role to play today in disaster recovery than before. SMEs can now either donate material, information, finance and personnel (MIFP) or offer these at a price in DRSC so as to promote business continuity and a quick return to normalcy.

Keywords: supply chain; disaster response supply chain; SMEs; sustainable development; technologies in DRSC; framework for SMEs; technologies for SMEs; SMEs managers; technologies for disasters; SMEs in disaster recovery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCOR.2020.105952

International Journal of Supply Chain and Operations Resilience, 2020 Vol.4 No.1, pp.85 - 101

Received: 29 Mar 2019
Accepted: 05 Aug 2019
Published online: 19 Mar 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article