NARROWING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
SCHOOL Kühne Logistics University (KLU), Germany
he gap between research into humanitarian logistics and its influence on real-world practice is
T
explored in a new study involving KLU professor Maria Besiou. It argues that current research tends to oversimplify real-world problems and often overlooks the practitioners’ perspective. Access is also a problem, with research not reaching those in a position to influence practice. However, the study demonstrates how humanitarian research can impact practice, for example by improving processes, affecting discussions within organisations or enabling new strategic approaches. “Humanitarian research should not only create impact within academia, but help people make better decisions in crisis situations,” stated Besiou, who is also academic director of KLU’s Centre for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development. Together with co-author Erica Gralla from George Washington University, Besiou has created a framework for understanding a research project’s reach in the real world. “Research becomes particularly powerful when science and practice work together on solutions from the very beginning,” Besiou added. The study encompasses a review of 640 scientific abstracts, an analysis of more than 130 practitioner conference contributions, a survey of the research community and 18 interviews with practitioners from the humanitarian sector. Entitled From the Ivory Tower to the Field, it was published in the European Journal of Operational Research . EB
HOW SATELLITE DATA CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE EFFICACY OF AGRICULTURAL POLICY INTERVENTION
The researchers focused their attention on a financial assistance programme launched in 2018 to support crop investments among farmers in the state of Telangana. A lack of pre‑implementation survey data previously made it difficult to independently measure its impact. Using satellite imagery across almost 100,000 agricultural locations along a 10km strip of Telangana’s border with neighbouring states, however, yielded a clearer picture. The study found that agricultural productivity during the primary monsoon cropping period (known as Kharif season) increased by around 1.47 to 2.05 per cent more in areas that received the financial support. Timely assessment of agricultural interventions, the researchers say, is becoming critical for governments at both the state and national level because of the increasing influence of climate change and erratic monsoons. TBD
SCHOOL Goa Institute of Management (GIM), India
new study led by GIM shines a light on the growing potential for using satellite
A
technology and data analytics in governance and policy evaluation. Looking specifically at the agricultural sector, the study demonstrates how the impact of government policies can be measured, even when there is a dearth of traditional survey data. “One of the biggest challenges in developing countries is that policies often remain unevaluated due to the absence of reliable baseline data. This study shows satellite data can fill that gap rigorously and at scale,” explained GIM’s Muddasir Ahmad Akhoon, lead author of the study.
8 Business Impact • ISSUE 4 • 2026
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online