Developing a trust model in humanitarian supply chains: The case of Iran

This study focuses on developing a trust model within humanitarian supply chains, with a particular emphasis on the context of Iran. It highlights the critical role of trust, coordination, and collaboration among actors in ensuring rapid response and effective aid distribution during disaster scenarios. In the initial phase of the research, a qualitative approach was adopted, employing the grounded theory method. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with experts (n=8), each lasting approximately one hour and held in their respective work environments. Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were utilized to select participants. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed in three stages—open, axial, and selective coding—using Nvivo software, culminating in the development of the trust model. The reliability of the coding process was evaluated using the ten criteria outlined by Corbin and Strauss (2015) for qualitative research. In the quantitative phase, the Social Network Analysis (SNA) technique was employed to elucidate the components of trust-building within the aid chain and to identify the relationships between these components. Three major incidents in Tehran—the metro flood, the Plasco building fire, and the Shahran explosion—were selected as case studies. Criterion sampling was used to recruit participants, and surveys were conducted with relief workers and operations managers involved in these events. The data were analyzed using indicators such as centrality (betweenness and degree), density, and cutpoints, with all analyses performed using NetDraw software. The validity of this phase was ensured by the accuracy of the analytical process and the appropriateness of the SNA indicators. In the second phase of the quantitative analysis, the fourth objective of the study—prioritizing the components of the aid chain—was addressed using the Intuitionistic Fuzzy Best-Worst Method (IFBWM). Snowball sampling was employed to select participants for this phase. The reliability of the findings was assessed through the consistency index, and the validity of the developed model was rigorously confirmed.