A framework to compare OR models for humanitarian logistics

Abstract

A multitude of OR models - mainly mathematical programs - has been published in relevant journals to support decision-making in the field of humanitarian logistics. Due to the effort that comes with their application, these models are often not adapted by practitioners in humanitarian organizations. Clearly, one part of the effort relates to the comparison process in which the decision-maker has to choose the most appropriate model out of the available OR models. In this contribution, a framework is presented that should help decision-makers in the field of humanitarian logistics to compare available OR models. Three different ways how to compare OR models are introduced: based on the decision they support, based on the decision criteria and metrics they use, and based on their underlying methodology and assumptions. To serve as an illustration, two mathematical programs for the specification of stationary warehouses for relief items are compared with the help of this framework. In the long run, this framework will guide users of a methodological toolkit for humanitarian logistics to the most appropriate OR model for their decision problem. The development of such a methodological toolkit is the overarching goal of this work-in-progress.