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Conducting In-Depth Case Studies in Humanitarian Logistics: The Case of MSF

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The Palgrave Handbook of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Despite the evolution of logistics research towards qualitative methods such as case studies, there is still a great important number of quantitative studies in the logistics and supply chain management discipline and this is particularly true in humanitarian logistics. This chapter addresses this issue, not by explaining when or why case study research should be used in humanitarian logistics, but rather explaining how it was used to conduct an in-depth case study with one international humanitarian organization: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) France. The chapter explains thoroughly the process of conducting this case study as a mean of sharing an experience, and sheds a light on some of the key aspects to take into account in order to get the most of this method.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For a thorough description of the actual case study, please refer to Vega (2016).

  2. 2.

    The logistics facility is considered as a branch of the French section and the perspective from this facility can vary from that of the staff from the headquarters.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge Bruno Delouche, Philippe Cachet, David Vicqery, and the staff from MSF Logistique and the MSF headquarters in Paris, and professors Nathalie Fabbe-Costes and Marianne Jahre for their support and guidance for this case study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NEOMA Business School, Reims, France

    Diego Vega

Authors
  1. Diego Vega
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Correspondence to Diego Vega .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hanken School of Economics , Helsinki, Finland

    Gyöngyi Kovács

  2. Hanken School of Economics , Helsinki, Finland

    Karen Spens

  3. Hanken School of Economics , Helsinki, Finland

    Mohammad Moshtari

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Vega, D. (2018). Conducting In-Depth Case Studies in Humanitarian Logistics: The Case of MSF. In: Kovács, G., Spens, K., Moshtari, M. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59099-2_6

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