Title: Effectiveness of logistics skills to individual performance: challenges to Sri Lankan humanitarian sector

Authors: Shanaka Rajakaruna; A.W. Wijeratne

Addresses: Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Rd., Ganjingzi, Dalian, Liaoning, China ' Department of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka

Abstract: Logistic skills are a basic requirement for employment and career development within the humanitarian logistics (HL) field. These skills are changing in various logistics functions, groups and cultures at a time when disasters are increasing globally. There has been no specific research to explore the relationship between HL skills and performance. This article develops a conceptual framework to determine the relationship between skills and performance and evaluates the framework by means of a multiple regression analysis. Data was gathered and analysed from HL practitioners working in Sri Lanka. The analysis proved that there is a positive relationship between previously researched skills and HL performance. However, this relationship only explains the performance level against certain limitations. Therefore, further research is required to find the additional skills required. This research may assist HL organisations to recruit, train and retain HL practitioners and improve HL supply chain in a disaster.

Keywords: humanitarian logistics; Sri Lanka; skills; performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLC.2019.105636

International Journal of Learning and Change, 2019 Vol.11 No.4, pp.324 - 346

Received: 02 Jun 2018
Accepted: 22 Feb 2019
Published online: 06 Mar 2020 *

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