1、1外文翻译原文HUMANITARIANCLUSTERLEADSASFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSPROVIDERSMATERIALSOURCELECTURENOTESINBUSINESSINFORMATIONPROCESSINGAUTHORLEIFMAGNUSJENSENABSTRACTTHECONCEPTOFAFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSPROVIDERISINCREASINGLYEXPLOREDINTHELITERATUREANDHASCOMETOFOCUSONFIRMSTHATAREABLETOORGANIZEANDRUNSIGNIFICANTPARTSOFASUP
2、PLYCHAINTHESEFIRMSAREASSIGNEDINCREASINGRESPONSIBILITYFORDESIGN,RECRUITMENTOFOTHERFIRMSANDMAINTENANCEOFSUPPLYCHAINSDUETOVERYSPECIFICSKILLSWITHINTHEHUMANITARIANSECTORTHEREISCONSIDERABLEREORGANIZATIONOFTHENECESSARILYAGILESUPPLYCHAINSNECESSARYTODELIVERRELIEFDURINGDISASTERSTHISREORGANIZATIONHASINCLUDEDTH
3、EDESIGNATIONOFCLUSTERSFORDIFFERENTTYPESOFACTIVITY,ANDSIGNIFICANTLYLEADERSHIPOFTHECLUSTERTOSPECIFICORGANIZATIONSTHISARTICLEAPPLIESTHECONCEPTOFAFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSPROVIDERONTHECLUSTERCONCEPTTOHELPDEVELOPACONCEPTFORHOWTHECLUSTERLEADSTHEMSELVESSHOULDOPERATEKEYWORDS4PLCLUSTERLEADSHUMANITARIANLOGISTICSCO
4、NCEPTUALINTRODUCTIONRECENTLYHUMANITARIANAIDHASBEENREORGANIZEDACCORDINGTOTHECLUSTERSYSTEMGROUPINGORGANIZATIONSTOGETHERINAREASSUCHASWATERANDSANITATION,CAMPMANAGEMENTANDLOGISTICSTHEPURPOSEOFTHISREORGANIZATIONHASBEENTODEALWITHASETOFCOORDINATIONISSUESINCLUDINGOVERLAPPINGPROVISIONOFRELIEFANDUNCLEARRESPONS
5、IBILITYFORATRISKPOPULATIONSEACHCLUSTERHASBEENASSIGNEDAGLOBALCLUSTERLEAD,ANDALTHOUGHTHECLUSTERLEADSHAVEBEENASSIGNEDASETOFRESPONSIBILITIES,WHATISLESSCLEARISHOWTHEYSHOULDHANDLETHEMTHATIS,GIVENTHECONSTRAINTSINHERENTINTHEHUMANITARIANSYSTEM,HOWISTHEGLOBALCLUSTERLEADINTENDEDTOFULFILLITSRESPONSIBILITIESINAS
6、ETTINGWITHMANYINDEPENDENTORGANIZATIONSTHATOFTENOBJECTTOBEINGDIRECTEDTHISPAPERSUGGESTSTHATTHECONCEPTOFAFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSPROVIDER4PLCANUSEFULLYBEEMPLOYEDFORADISCUSSIONOFHOWTHEGLOBALCLUSTER2CANBALANCETHENEEDFORCOORDINATIONWITHTHENEEDTOACHIEVEBUYINFROMTHEVARIOUSORGANIZATIONSINVOLVEDINHUMANITARIANRELI
7、EFTHEPURPOSEOFTHEPAPERISTODEALWITHTHEQUESTIONHOWCANTHECONCEPTOFAFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSPROVIDERGUIDECLUSTERLEADSINDEFININGWHATROLETOTAKETOANSWERTHISQUESTIONITISNATURALTOBEGINWITHADESCRIPTIONOFTHECLUSTERSYSTEMITSELF,ANDTHENTOTIETHISTOAREVIEWOFTHELITERATUREONFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSTHETER
8、MFOURTHPARTYLOGISTICSWASFIRSTCOINEDBYACCENTUREANDDEFINEDACCORDINGLYASUPPLYCHAININTEGRATORTHATASSEMBLESANDMANAGESTHERESOURCES,CAPABILITIES,ANDTECHNOLOGYOFITSOWNORGANIZATIONWITHTHOSEOFCOMPLEMENTARYSERVICEPROVIDERSTODELIVERACOMPREHENSIVESUPPLYCHAINSOLUTIONINITIALLY4PLWASATRADEMARKBUTITHASINCREASINGLYBE
9、COMEARECOGNIZEDTERMINBUSINESSLITERATUREASWELLTHECONCEPTOFA4PLHASCOMETOMEANAFIRMORORGANIZATIONCARRYINGOUTCERTAINSPECIFICTASKSANDTAKINGASPECIFICROLEINASUPPLYSYSTEMWINPROVIDESTHEFOLLOWINGUPDATEDDEFINITIONA4PLISANINDEPENDENT,SINGULARLYACCOUNTABLE,NONASSETBASEDINTEGRATOROFACLIENTSSUPPLYANDDEMANDCHAINSTHE
10、4PLSROLEISTOIMPLEMENTANDMANAGEAVALUECREATINGBUSINESSSOLUTIONTHROUGHCONTROLOFTIMEANDPLACEUTILITIESANDINFLUENCEONFORMANDPOSSESSIONUTILITIESWITHINTHECLIENTORGANIZATIONPERFORMANCEANDSUCCESSOFTHE4PLSINTERVENTIONISMEASUREDASAFUNCTIONOFVALUECREATIONWITHINTHECLIENTORGANIZATIONTHISISCLEARLYANIMPORTANTDEFINIT
11、IONWITHREGARDTOTHECLUSTERSYSTEMBECAUSETHEVALUECREATIONORATLEASTTHEPERCEPTIONOFUSEFULNESSWILLBECRITICALFORTHESUCCESSOFTHECLUSTERSYSTEMOVERTIMETHEWORDSIMPLEMENTANDMANAGESHOWSSOMEVERYIMPORTANTCHARACTERISTICSOFA4PLITISTOAGREATDEGREERESPONSIBLEFORMAKINGASUPPLYCHAINOPERATEWINSDEFINITIONISHOWEVERVERYMUCHIN
12、TERMSOFA4PLANDITSMAINCLIENTMUKHOPADHYAYSETAPUTRAHASAFURTHERDEFINITIONWHERETHE4PLISVERYCLEARLYPLACEDASAFORMOFINTERMEDIARYA4PLISTREATEDASASTRATEGICPARTNER,RATHERTHANATACTICALONEANDISASUPPLYCHAININTEGRATORTHATSYNTHESIZESANDMANAGESTHERESOURCES,CAPABILITIES,AND3TECHNOLOGYOFITSOWNORGANIZATIONWITHTHOSEOFCO
13、MPLEMENTARYSERVICEPROVIDERSTODELIVERACOMPREHENSIVESUPPLYCHAINSOLUTIONTHISDEFINITIONISSOMEWHATATYPICALFORRECENTCONCEPTIONSOF4PLSWHEREITDOESNOTRELYONHAVINGCONSIDERABLEASSETSORPHYSICALINVESTMENTS,BUTITISVERYMUCHRELEVANTTOTHECLUSTERLEADSWHOHAVEEXACTLYTHISCHALLENGEOFBEINGABLETOMATCHTHEIROWNANDCOMPLEMENTA
14、RYCAPABILITIESTODEALWITHTHENEEDSOFTHECLUSTERTHESEEXAMPLESILLUSTRATETHERELEVANCEOFTHE4PLCONCEPTFORTHECLUSTERLEADS,BUTAMOREDETAILEDEXPLORATIONOFTHEELEMENTSOFTHEORIGINAL4PLCONCEPTCANGIVEUSABETTERINSIGHTINTOTHEMATCHBETWEEN4PLSANDCLUSTERLEADSTHESEFOURMAINTHEMESAREUSEFULFORDESCRIBINGA4PL,BUTTHEYCANBEIMPRO
15、VEDBYTYINGTHEMMOREEXPLICITLYTOEXISTINGLITERATUREWHICHHASMORETOSAYABOUTTHEMECHANISMSANDREASONSBEHIND4PLSTOANSWERTHEQUESTIONOFHOWTHEGLOBALCLUSTERLEADSFITWITHTHE4PLCONCEPTTHEN,ITISNECESSARYTODISCUSSTHEFOURTHEMESARCHITECT/INTEGRATOR,CONTROLROOM,SUPPLYCHAININFOMEDIARYANDRESOURCEPROVIDERINCONTEXTFOREACHOF
16、THEFOURTHEMESITISALSOPOSSIBLETORELATETHEMDIRECTLYTOEXPERIENCESWITHTHECLUSTERLEADS,HEREUSINGEXAMPLESFROMTHELOGISTICSCLUSTERFORCONSISTENCYARCHITECT/INTEGRATORTHEABILITYTOBEANARCHITECTORINTEGRATORISCORETOTHEDESCRIPTIONOFA4PLINTHELITERATURE,ANDMEANSHAVINGTHECOMPETENCETOCARRYOUTSUPPLYCHAINDESIGNASWELLAST
17、HESUPPORTINGSKILLSWITHINPROJECTMANAGEMENTANDCUSTOMERMANAGEMENTTOENABLETHESUPPLYCHAINTOWORKATANOVERALLLEVELITCANBEBASEDONEITHERASTRONGCOMPETENCEWITHINSUPPLYCHAINDESIGNASARESULTOFEXTENSIVEWORKASA3PLORCONSULTANTINTHEINDUSTRY,BUTALSOONBEINGINANINDEPENDENTPOSITIONMAKINGITEASIERTOMAKEOVERALLARRANGEMENTSTH
18、ATAREBENEFICIALFORTHESUPPLYCHAININQUESTIONTHISMAKESTHE4PLLESSVULNERABLETOALLEGATIONSOFFAVORINGTHEUSEOFITSOWNRESOURCESATLEASTWHEREITDOESNOTHAVEHEAVY3PLSTYLEASSETSTHISFITSQUITEWELLWITHTHECONCEPTOFACLUSTERLEADTHECLUSTERLEADISMEANTTOMAKETHESYSTEMWORKTHROUGHFOCUSINGONCOORDINATION,PRIMARILYOFOTHERACTORS,A
19、LTHOUGHTHECLUSTERLEADCANBEAFULLPARTICIPANTINTHERELIEFOPERATIONFOREXAMPLE,WHENWFPISTHECLUSTERLEADITWILLNATURALLYCARRYOUTAGREATDEALOFACTIVITIESINTHESECTORTHESEWILLTYPICALLYBERELATEDTOFOODLOGISTICSWHICHISNOTTHEREMITOFTHECLUSTERSYSTEM,BUTTHEYARERELEVANTTOTHECLUSTERBECAUSEITMEANS4WFPHASCONSIDERABLECAPACI
20、TYANDPRESENCEWHICHCANBEUSEFULFORTHELOGISTICSCLUSTEREXISTINGACTIVITIESINACRISISISHOWEVERMAINLYTIEDTOUNDERSTANDINGINFIELDPROBLEMSTHATIS,THEMOSTIMPORTANTROLEOFTHECLUSTERLEADINCOORDINATIONISINGETTINGOTHERACTORSTOCOOPERATEINTHEIRACTIVITIESTHEREAREOFCOURSEANUMBEROFWAYSOFDOINGTHISINACOMMERCIALSETTINGTHE4PL
21、ISABLETONEGOTIATECONTRACTSONBEHALFOFAPAYINGCLIENT,ANDOFTENTHEREAREMANYPOTENTIAL3PLSVYINGFORTHESECONTRACTS,SOTHATSELECTIONANDMAINTENANCEOFAPOPULATIONOFSUPPLIERSISPARTOFITSACTIVITIESFORTHECLUSTERLEADS,ITISMOREACASETHATTHEYHAVETODEALWITHTHOSEORGANIZATIONSTHATAREORCHOOSETOBEPRESENTDURINGARELIEFOPERATION
22、HOWEVER,EFFECTIVEORGANIZATION,ACCESSTOFUNDINGTHROUGHTHECLUSTERSYSTEMANDTHEFACTTHATTHECLUSTERSYSTEMISMOREDEPENDENTONGOODANDEFFECTIVERATHERTHANCOMPLETEPARTICIPATIONMEANSTHATTHEREAREINPRACTICEMANYPARALLELSEVENSOTHEDEGREEOFPARTICIPATIONINITSELFISANIMPORTANTMEASUREFORTHECLUSTERLEADSCONTROLROOMTHECONTROLR
23、OOMPLACESTHE4PLASADECISIONMAKERWITHAFOCUSONMANAGINGOPERATIONSFROMDAYTODAYRATHERTHANNECESSARILYCARRYINGOUTTRANSPORTANDWAREHOUSINGTHEMANAGEMENTOFMULTIPLE3PLSCOMESUNDERTHISHEADINGINFACT,THECONCEPTOFAHUB,ATLEASTWHENITISMEANTINOPERATIONALTERMSISENTIRELYRELEVANTTOTHISCATEGORY8USINGTHECONCEPTOFAHUBENABLESU
24、STOSEEMOREINDETAILSOMEOFTHEMORESTRUCTURALEFFECTSOFUSINGA4PLSEVERALASPECTSCANBEIDENTIFIED,INCLUDINGTHEREDUCTIONOFTHENUMBEROFBUSINESSTIESORONGOINGCOMMUNICATION,THEHANDLINGOFRISKANDTHEMOREGENERALCONCEPTOFANINTERMEDIARYTHEREDUCTIONOFBUSINESSTIESORMOREBROADLYTHEAMOUNTOFINTERACTIONNEEDEDINORDERTOCARRYOUTB
25、USINESSISBASEDONAFAIRLYSIMPLEMATHEMATICALMODELIFASETOFPRODUCERSAARESELLINGAPRODUCTTOASETOFCUSTOMERSBWITHOUTANINTERMEDIARY,THENTHENUMBEROFINTERACTIONSFORALLTHECUSTOMERSTOCONTACTALLTHEPRODUCERSAREABTHISMAYBESEENASANEXTREMEEXAMPLE,BUTCUSTOMERSMAYGENERALLYWANTTOBEINCONTACTWITHANUMBEROFPRODUCERSTOCHECKPR
26、ICE,PRODUCTQUALITYANDSOONINSERTINGANINTERMEDIARYCANREDUCETHENUMBEROFINTERACTIONSTOABTHISCONCLUSIONISBASEDONTHEFAIRLYSTRONGASSUMPTIONSTHATTHESAMEKINDOFBUSINESSCANBECARRIEDOUTTHROUGHTHEINTERMEDIARYASDIRECTLYBETWEENCUSTOMERANDSUPPLIER,ANDTHATTHEREISALACKOFALTERNATIVEMECHANISMSFORMATCHINGSUPPLYANDDEMAND
27、RISKMANAGEMENTISAFREQUENTTASKFORINTERMEDIARIES,FOREXAMPLEFINANCIALINTERMEDIARIESCARRYINGFINANCIALRISKORLARGERINTERMEDIARIESABSORBINGFLUCTUATIONS5FROMMANYSMALLERCUSTOMERSTHUSEVENINGOUTRISKOVERALLANOTHERCATEGORYISTHEIMPROVEMENTOFOPERATIONALRISKTHROUGHTHEINTERMEDIARYSSPECIALISTKNOWLEDGEANDCONTINUALFOCU
28、SONIMPROVINGOPERATIONSINTERMSOFTHECLUSTERCONCEPTRISKISLESSPROMINENTSINCEALLPARTICIPANTSTAKECONSIDERABLERISKTIEDTOFOREXAMPLETHEUNCERTAINTYOFFUNDINGINADDITION,ITISOFTENUNCERTAINWHERETHENEXTDISASTERWILLSTRIKEANDTHEOPERATINGENVIRONMENTOFTENMEANSTHATCONSIDERABLERISKMUSTBETAKENALREADYBOTHFORPERSONNELANDEQ
29、UIPMENTRISKMANAGEMENTCANHOWEVERBETIEDTOAFEWTASKSOFTHECLUSTER,SUCHASASSISTINGWITHPREPOSITIONINGOFSUPPLIESTHISCANHELPMITIGATETHERISKOFNOTHAVINGSUPPLIESAVAILABLEFORACRISISBECAUSETHEREARESAFETYSTOCKSAFURTHERDEVELOPMENTHEREISDEVELOPINGVIRTUALCOMMONSTOCKS,IESTOCKSSTOREDINAGENERICFORMAT,WHERETHELABELINGFOR
30、APARTICULARNGOISCARRIEDOUTASTHESTOCKSARESHIFTEDTHISALSOINVOLVESNGOSANDAGENCIESBORROWINGSTOCKFROMEACHOTHER,SPREADINGRISKACROSSTHEORGANIZATIONS,THUSINCREASINGTHEOVERALLABILITYTOCARRYRISKNOTEHOWEVERTHATMANYOFTHESEINITIATIVESARETAKENEITHERBYNGOSTHEMSELVES,ORMOREGENERALLYTHROUGHTHEUNITEDNATIONSDEVELOPMEN
31、TPROGRAMMEUNDP,SOTHEYARENOTCRUCIALLYDEPENDENTONTHECLUSTERLEADITSELFINTHISSENSEWESHOULDNOTOVEREMPHASIZETHEIMPORTANTOFTHECLUSTERLEADSINRISKMANAGEMENTINTERMSOFTHECLUSTERS,ITSEEMSCLEARTHATINMANYRESPECTSTHEGLOBALLEADCANBECONSIDEREDANINTERMEDIARYFORCERTAINTASKSSUCHASACTINGASAFOCALPOINTFORDISSEMINATINGINFO
32、RMATIONTHEREAREHOWEVERFEATURESINHUMANITARIANRELIEFTHATCOMPLICATETHEPICTUREITWASNOTTHECASETHATALLORGANIZATIONSWERECOMMUNICATINGBEFORETHECLUSTERCONCEPTINDEED,THEPROBLEMOFCOORDINATIONWASPARTIALLYINSUFFICIENTCONTACTBETWEENNUMEROUSPARTICIPANTSHOWEVER,ASASOLUTIONTOTHEPROBLEMTHATEVERYBODYTALKINGTOEVERYBODY
33、WOULDBEFARTOOCOSTLY,THECALCULATIONABOVEISCONSISTENTARECURRINGISSUEWILLNEVERTHELESSBETHATOPERATINGTHECLUSTERCONCEPTHASACOSTANDTHEBENEFITSINTERMSOFCOORDINATIONWILLHAVETOBESUBSTANTIALTOJUSTIFYTHISRESOURCEPROVIDERTHEABILITYTOBEARESOURCEPROVIDERISONEOFTHEASPECTSOF4PLSTHATHAVECHANGEDSOMEWHATSINCETHEORIGIN
34、ALFORMULATION,INTHATITISINCREASINGLYSEENASANADVANTAGEIFTHE4PLITSELFDOESNOTHAVEEXTENSIVEPHYSICALRESOURCESWITHINFOREXAMPLETRANSPORTATIONANDWAREHOUSINGTHEREASONISBOTHTHATMAKINGUSEOFSUCHRESOURCESMAYREQUIREDIFFERENTCOMPETENCIESFROMTHEOTHERTASKSCARRIEDOUTBYA4PL,BUTEQUALLYIMPORTANTTHEINCENTIVESTRUCTUREFORT
35、HE4PLCHANGESIFITHASPHYSICALASSETSTHATNEEDTOBEUTILIZEDPROFITABLYTHEARGUMENT6GOESTHATITISBETTERTOBEASSETNEUTRALANDSIMPLYTOBEGOODATBUYINGTHESERVICESOFOTHERFIRMSSUCHAS3PLSWHICHCANTHENFOCUSONMAKINGTHEBESTPOSSIBLEUSEOFPHYSICALRESOURCESFORTHOSETASKSTHE4PLCARRIESOUT,THEARGUMENTSAREESSENTIALLYTIEDTOSCALEANDS
36、PECIALIZATIONADVANTAGESOFSCALEAREACOMMONTHEMEINBUSINESS,PRODUCTIONANDDISTRIBUTIONFORANINTERMEDIARYACHIEVINGSCALEISLARGELYTIEDTOACCUMULATINGVOLUMEINTHETYPEOFTASKTHATTHEINTERMEDIARYCARRIESOUT,BEITPURCHASING,LOGISTICSORPURETRANSPORTTHESCALECANBEACHIEVEDEITHERINOPERATIONSTHEMSELVES,IEOPERATINGWITHMOREFR
37、EQUENTDELIVERIESDUETOLARGEVOLUME,ORDUETOACCUMULATINGBUSINESS,EGGAININGCONCESSIONSFROMSUPPLIERSDUETOLARGEPURCHASINGORDERSINTHECLUSTERCONCEPTANDHUMANITARIANRESPONSETHEREAREANUMBEROFTASKSWHEREACHIEVINGSCALEISBENEFICIAL,BUTITISNOTGIVENTHATTHECLUSTERLEADWILLBEDIRECTLYINVOLVEDINTHESEFOREXAMPLE,PURCHASINGO
38、FRELIEFSUPPLIES,MANAGINGOFTRANSPORTCORRIDORSORMANAGINGOFCAMPSAREALLAREASWHEREITISEASYTOSEEBENEFITSOFSCALE,BUTITISNOTGIVENTHATACLUSTERLEADMUSTBEDIRECTLYINVOLVEDINTHESECERTAINLYEVENIFONECLUSTERLEADISINVOLVEDINSOMEOFTHESETASKS,OTHERSWILLNOTBETHEREAREHOWEVERSOMEGENERALTASKSTIEDTOTHEADMINISTRATIONOFACLUS
39、TERANDTHECLUSTERITSELFWHERESCALEDOESGIVESOMEBENEFITSFOREXAMPLE,ESTABLISHINGCOMPUTERSYSTEMS,IDENTIFYINGANDDISSEMINATINGSOMEBASICSOFTWAREANDTHEDEVELOPMENTANDUSEOFSTANDARDSFORCERTAINDOCUMENTSSUCHASSITUATIONREPORTSREPRESENTARECURRINGNEEDHOWEVER,FORANYSITUATIONMANYORMOSTOFTHEACTUALOPERATIONSANDACTIVITIES
40、WILLBECARRIEDOUTBYINDIVIDUALNGOSORAGENCIESATTHESCALETHEYCANACHIEVETHISISAFUNDAMENTALFEATUREOFTHEPRESENTORGANIZATIONOFTHESECTOR,ANDITISNOTTHEPURPOSEOFTHECLUSTERCONCEPTTOCHANGETHIS,BUTRATHERTOHELPWITHCOORDINATIONWHEREITHASBEENIDENTIFIEDASAPROBLEMATICISSUEINGENERAL,TASKSWILLBECARRIEDOUTBYNGOSANDAGENCIE
41、SINACCORDANCEWITHPARTICULARGRANTSOFFUNDING,LIMITINGTHEFLEXIBILITYTOMERGEACTIVITIESEVENWHERETHEORGANIZATIONSWANTTHISFURTHERMORE,MANYNGOSOFTENHAVESPECIFICTARGETGROUPSNECESSARILYLIMITINGTHESCALEOFTHEIRACTIVITIESORSPECIFICCHARTERSTHATMAKEITDIFFICULTTOCOOPERATEWITHCERTAINOTHERORGANIZATIONSSUCHASEGMILITAR
42、YFORCESINTHISSENSE,ITISPOSSIBLEFORTHECLUSTERTOIDENTIFYANDINFORMBUTNOTTOFORCEORGANIZATIONSTOMERGEACTIVITIESTHISMEANSTHATTHESCALEARGUMENTONLYAPPLIESGENERALLYTOAFEWOVERALLTASKSHOWEVER,SINCETHESETASKSARERECURRINGANDCRUCIALLYMAYIMPACTONOTHERTASKS,7EGSETTINGUPASYSTEMFORSITUATIONREPORTSQUICKLYMAKINGITPOSSI
43、BLEFORNGOSANDAGENCIESTOCARRYOUTTHEIROWNTASKSMOREEFFICIENTLY,THISCANSTILLBEQUITESIGNIFICANTSUPPLYCHAININFOMEDIARYACTINGASASUPPLYCHAININFOMEDIARYMEANSTOCREATEELECTRONICLINKSBETWEENTHESUPPLYCHAINMEMBERSTHATIS,THE4PLNOTONLYTAKESONTHEINTERMEDIATIONROLEBETWEENDIFFERENTPROVIDERSANDUSERSOFTHEIRSERVICES,BUTA
44、LSOPROVIDESSPECIALIZEDINFRASTRUCTURETOMAKETHEDAYTODAYRUNNINGOFTHESYSTEMEASIERANDMOREEFFICIENTWHILETHISPOINTISHIGHLYRELEVANTINTHATCERTAINCLUSTERLEADSAREALREADYMAKINGSPECIALIZEDITTOOLSAVAILABLEFORCLUSTERMEMBERS,ITISPERHAPSBETTERTOMAKEAMOREGENERALPOINTHEREFIRSTISTHEVALUEOFTHEINTERMEDIARYCONCEPT,IETHEMA
45、INTASKOFA4PLISTOTIEOTHERORGANIZATIONSTOGETHERINORDERTOACHIEVEANOVERALLAIMFORTHESUPPLYCHAINSECOND,ITSHOWSTHEVALUEOFSPECIALISTKNOWLEDGEPOSSESSEDBYTHE4PL,EVENWHEREITISNOTFOCUSEDPRIMARILYONTHETYPICAL3PLTASKSSUCHASTRANSPORT,HANDLINGANDWAREHOUSINGSPECIALISTKNOWLEDGEREFERSTOTHEISSUETHATSOMEFIRMSFOCUSONCERT
46、AINSKILLSANDCAPABILITIESINORDERTOCARRYOUTTHESEMOREEFFICIENTLYTHISEFFICIENCYCANBEBASEDONEXPERIENCE,PARTICULARINVESTMENTSINTECHNOLOGYORPEOPLE,ORACOMBINATIONOFTHETWOTHESEARGUMENTSCANBEFOUNDAGAININCORECOMPETENCELITERATUREORTHERESOURCEBASEDVIEW,ANDISDIFFERENTFROMTHESCALEARGUMENTINTHATTHESPECIALISTCARRIES
47、OUTACTIVITIESBETTEREVENATTHESAMESCALEASOTHERFIRMSTHEEFFECTOFSUCHSPECIALISTKNOWLEDGECANBEBOTHCARRYINGOUTTHESAMEACTIVITIESATLOWERCOST,ANDCARRYINGTHEMOUTWITHHIGHERQUALITYTHECONCEPTOFSPECIALISTKNOWLEDGEREQUIRESSOMEADDITIONALCLARIFICATIONINTERMSOFTHECLUSTERCONCEPTWITHINHUMANITARIANRESPONSEINGENERAL,ITISR
48、EASONABLETOASSUMETHATITISTHENGOS,AGENCIESANDLOCALGOVERNMENTSTHATARETHEEXPERTSANDPOSSESSSPECIALISTKNOWLEDGEWITHINTHEIROWNFIELDSTHISDOESNOTMEANTHATTHEREISNOVARIATIONINCOMPETENCEBETWEENDIFFERENTORGANIZATIONS,BUTITISNOTTHEPURPOSEOFTHECLUSTERTOPROVIDEBASICKNOWLEDGEONFOREXAMPLEHANDLINGEMERGENCYSHELTERTHEE
49、XCEPTIONTOTHISISTHATSOMEGENERALSTANDARDSTHROUGHFOREXAMPLETHESPHEREPROJECT3AREBETTERHANDLEDACROSSANUMBEROFORGANIZATIONSFURTHERMOREANDESPECIALLYFORSMALLERNGOSITISLIKELYTHATTHEFIELDOFEXPERTISEISLIMITEDSOTHEREAREANUMBEROFASSOCIATEDSKILLSWHERETHENGOISNOTSPECIALIZEDANDCOULDUSEOUTSIDEHELPFOREXAMPLE,ANNGOMAYFOCUSONCAMPMANAGEMENT,BUTHAVELIMITEDSKILLINHANDLINGINBOUNDLOGISTICSTOTHECAMPTHISMEANSTHATTHEREAREGAPSINEACHPARTICULARRESPONSEWHERETHEGLOBALCLUSTERLEADCAN8CONTRIBUTE,EITHERDIRECTLYTHROUGHDEVELOPINGSOMESKILLSTHATWILLBENEEDEDINEACHRESPONSE,ORBYGAPFILLINGTOSUMMARIZE,THEREARETWOOBVIOUSA
