Proposing a Model for the Development of Electronic Logistics in the Ground Force of the Iranian Army through Utilizing Sense and Respond Approach

Sense and respond logistics is taken as an adaptable logistics to the environment; it is also aimed to identify the requirements of its environment and is capable of adapting to the requirements. This study is an applied one and also descriptive-analytic in terms of purpose and data collection procedures. The study was an attempt to propose a model for the development of electronic logistics in the ground force of the Iranian army through utilizing sense and respond approach. For this purpose, the effective factors affecting the electronic logistics in military organizations were emerged and identified as a result of content analysis. Moreover, in a bid to provide a general model for explaining the relations among variables, this study was also conducted through utilizing interpretive structural modeling in military setting affiliated to the ground force of the Iranian army. ISM is identified as a technique of decision making and system analysis through utilizing the elites and experts opinions and consultation. This study was also conducted through engaging sample population of 13 elites and experts affiliated to the electronic logistics centers of the ground force of the Iranian army. The findings revealed that three main components of Sense and respond approach including stability; speed and flexibility are effectively affecting the military electronic logistics centers. Additionally, the crucial effects of electronic logistics components also including infrastructure of information technology, cargo tracking technology, well-timed production and distribution as well as capacity and ease of transportation. In this study, structural-descriptive equations were also run to evaluate the impacts and the effectiveness of factors. Finally, MICMAC analysis was also run to evaluate the driving power, correlation and the dependencies among factors.