Process improvement: a matter of life or death for non-governmental organizations

Humanitarian logistics continues to be “big business,” with overall INGO budgets far into the billions of dollars. In the midst of such chaos, some analysts are questioning the relevance, and even the survivability, of the INGOs. This chapter focuses on the operational issue of process improvement, with special reference to the possible role of standards. However, the pressure on INGOs is not only about “doing things right” in the operational sense, i.e. the question of “how” are things being done? The pressure also includes the question of “why” are things being done? This question is beyond process improvement and any possible role of standards. This is about missions and strategic directions, about “doing (the) right things.” An INGO’s answers to such questions may be the difference between (organizational) life and death.