The application of “swift trust” to humanitarian logistics

Abstract

Trust is essential to supply chain teams as it has a positive impact on team performance. Long-term relationships in supply chains have also emphasised trust as their key element. Yet traditional models of trust have a limited application in hastily formed networks that are formed on the spot without a long-term component. An example of such hastily formed networks is the humanitarian aid supply network, which consists of a number of individual logisticians from a variety of organisations, coming together to bring relief to a disaster-stricken area. The aim of this paper is, thus, to further the understanding of swift trust in hastily formed networks as a means of improving relief operations in rapid onset disasters. A model of swift trust is presented, and each of its conditions discussed to unearth potential facilitators of swift trust.