Causal Structure of Institutional Factors Influencing the Digitalization of the Humanitarian Supply Chain: A Thematic Analysis–DEMATEL Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the causal structure of institutional factors influencing the digitalization of the humanitarian supply chain. The research seeks to determine which institutional dimensions function as the primary drivers of digital transformation and which dimensions are more influence-receiving, in order to present a systematic depiction of the institutional mechanisms required to realize digital transformation in relief and rescue operations. In the first phase, to extract institutional factors, an integrative thematic analysis was conducted based on the literature and 12 semi-structured interviews with experts in crisis management and humanitarian relief. The output of this phase was the classification of factors into six main dimensions: public policymaking and governance regulations, leadership and change management, data management and information transparency, inter-organizational coordination and management, infrastructure and cybersecurity, and culture-building and future orientation. In the second phase, to analyze causal relationships and determine the intensity of influence of each dimension, the DEMATEL method was applied using the judgments of seven experts in the fields of digitalization and crisis management. The findings indicate that public policymaking and governance regulations constitute the most influential factor and the primary driver of digitalization. Leadership and change management play an intermediary driving role by transmitting macro-level policies to operational levels. In contrast, dimensions such as data management, inter-organizational coordination, cybersecurity, and culture-building are more influence-receiving, and their strengthening depends on policy and managerial domains. By presenting an institutional–causal framework, the present study demonstrates that the digitalization of the humanitarian supply chain is not merely a technological project, but rather a governance and change management issue. The main added value of this research lies in integrating in-depth qualitative analysis with quantitative causal modeling (DEMATEL) and providing a prioritized roadmap for policymakers and humanitarian managers, enabling them to design the path of digital transformation with a focus on the most critical institutional factors.