Abstraction of the Concept of Defence Logistics
2025 (English)In: 37th Nofoma 2025 papers, Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Copenhagen / [ed] Andreas Wieland, Copenhagen: NOFOMA / Copenhagen Business School , 2025Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
The concept of Defence logistics (DL) or Military logistics (MiL) is defined across a variety of sources, including NATO standards, defence doctrines, and operational manuals. These definitions converge around several core elements: (i) the provision of essential supplies, (ii) the support and maintenance of materials, including modernization efforts, (iii) infrastructure such as storage facilities, garages, and service areas, (iv) transportation services, and (v) medical support. While DL is often conceptualized as an integrated system, its specific functions, scope, and organizational structures within armed forces remain underexplored. The requirements placed on logistics capabilities differ significantly between peacetime activities, such as training and resource management, and wartime operations. This dual-mode nature, combining steady-state efficiency with surge-state agility, presents a unique context. Given the cross-geographic and inter-organizational dimensions of DL, it is essential to abstract its conceptual framework to delineate its scope, interdependencies, functional components, and dual-mode capabilities. This study employs a structured abstraction process to systematically analyse and conceptualize DL. Drawing on insights from a series of workshops conducted with military logistics personnel, this research develops a comprehensive conceptual framework, or "visualization", to represent the functional components of DL across geographic and organizational dimensions in both peacetime and wartime contexts. This abstraction enhances the understanding of DL by elucidating its functional components and interdependencies, providing a robust foundation for improved planning and management strategies.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Copenhagen: NOFOMA / Copenhagen Business School , 2025.
Keywords [en]
military logistics, defence logistics, concept of defence logistics, dual-mode logistics capabilities, interdependencies in defence logistics.
National Category
Other Social Sciences Business Administration
Research subject
War Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-13809OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-13809DiVA, id: diva2:1968581
Conference
37th NOFOMA Conference, June 10-12, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark
2025-06-132025-06-132025-09-29Bibliographically approved