The Art of Allocation – Developing a Decision Support Framework for Country-Level Inventory Allocation within Médecins Sans Frontières’ Supply Chain

Abstract

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) does currently not have dedicated decision-making support for their in-country inventory allocation and is exploring how such decision support framework could be designed to enhance their supply chain operations.

The purpose of this thesis is thus to develop a structured framework for country-level inventory allocation decision-making at MSF.To fulfil the purpose two research questions were investigated. RQ1: What factors affect country-level inventory allocation in humanitarian supply chains, and how do they influence the decision-making process?
RQ2: What form can a decision-support framework take to best support such decisions in humanitarian organizations?

Stemming from the aim to solve a practical problem, the thesis is based on a design science research approach. Following a literature review, a conceptual framework was created which then guided the empirical data collection and iterative framework development. To support this, the data was collected through internal documents, a series of workshops and meetings, a focus group and a questionnaire. Together with insights from the conceptual framework the empirics were then analyzed to address each research question and fulfil the purpose.

The thesis resulted in identification of a set of factors influencing humanitarian inventory allocation. However, no unanimous understanding of how the factors influence was concluded. Instead, their influence was determined subject to variability depending on context. To accommodate such dynamic characteristics, certain framework attributes were deemed necessary, including the flexibility to adapt input criteria based on the context-specific factors. Ultimately, the thesis fulfilled its purpose by developing a validated decision-making framework adapted to the needs of humanitarian supply chains.

Popular Abstract

Where should the stock go? A seemingly simple question, yet one that Médecins Sans Frontières and other humanitarian organizations face under high uncertainty. With an increase in number and scale of disasters, the decision of where to place supplies becomes increasingly critical. Despite the high stakes, many aid agencies still lack structured support for such decisions.

Year after year, humanitarian organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provide aid in some of the world's most challenging environments. The effectiveness of their aid depends on the critical question: where should life-saving supplies be stored to best reach people in need?

Unlike the commercial world, such decisions do not revolve around customer satisfaction or profits. Instead, they include managing unpredictable demand, urgency, political instability or customs bottlenecks. Arguably a complex decision involving many parameters. However, tools for structuring such decision-making are often missing in organizations, not because the problem is unimportant, but because it is so complex.

To address this, a decision-support framework was developed in collaboration with MSF, based on real-world data and workshops with field experts. The framework takes parameters that influence stock placement, such as the perishability of medical supplies, transport risk, and storage conditions, and transforms it to a ranked list of actionable stock placement options.

But still, it is not as simple as that! The influencing factors turned out to be highly context-sensitive. What is critical in one region may be completely irrelevant in another. That is why the framework was built with certain well-selected features in mind. These features are not limited to simplicity, flexibility and modularity and that way it tackles the dilemma of ever-changing factors, without compromising on structure. Ultimately, this leaves the decision-maker with a tool to make smarter emergency supply decisions despite the volatile unpredictable settings such decisions happen in.

Answering the question Where should the stock go? is definitely not a simple task. But bettering decisions could mean faster response, better use of resources and potentially more lives saved. And while the framework is just one step, it is a step toward more data-driven, strategic and informed decision-making. In turn, this step contributes to a humanitarian sector more prepared for whatever comes next.

• author: Marcian, Stephanie
• supervisor: Joakim Kembro
• organization: Production Management; Engineering Logistics
• course: MTTM05 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Technology and Engineering
• keywords: humanitarian logistics, inventory allocation, decision-making, MSF, multi-criteria decision-making, contextualization
• other publication id: 6050
• language: English
• id: 9203761
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-24 12:03:51
• date last changed: 2025-06-24 12:03:51