​​Evaluating the Effectiveness of Supply Chain Simulation Exercises in Public Health - A Literature Review Perspective​

Abstract

This thesis explores how full-scale simulation exercises (FSEs) contribute to the creation, transfer and retention of tacit knowledge in humanitarian operations. Drawing on a systematic literature review of 28 peer-reviewed studies, the analysis applies Knowledge Creation Theory and the SECI model to examine three levels of learning. At the individual level, tacit knowledge is developed through socialisation—informal exchanges, mentorship and shared experiences—and internalisation, where explicit procedures are embodied through practice and reflection. These processes strengthen professional competences, enhance confidence and foster adaptive expertise that endures beyond exercises. At the organisational level, FSEs serve as formal mechanisms for externalising individual insights through debriefings, codified training artefacts and evaluation practices, while knowledge-centred and trust-based cultures support informal sharing across teams. At the system level, FSEs provide collaborative platforms where diverse organisations rehearse joint responses, align practices and build collective memory. Effective knowledge and information management further enables dissemination and coordination across agencies. Overall, the findings show that FSEs are not merely training events but critical knowledge infrastructures that link individual expertise, organisational learning and inter-organisational collaboration. By demonstrating how tacit knowledge can be systematically cultivated and institutionalised, the study contributes to theory on knowledge creation and offers practical guidance for enhancing preparedness and resilience in humanitarian operations.This thesis explores how full-scale simulation exercises (FSEs) contribute to the creation, transfer and retention of tacit knowledge in humanitarian operations. Drawing on a systematic literature review of 28 peer-reviewed studies, the analysis applies Knowledge Creation Theory and the SECI model to examine three levels of learning. At the individual level, tacit knowledge is developed through socialisation—informal exchanges, mentorship and shared experiences—and internalisation, where explicit procedures are embodied through practice and reflection. These processes strengthen professional competences, enhance confidence and foster adaptive expertise that endures beyond exercises. At the organisational level, FSEs serve as formal mechanisms for externalising individual insights through debriefings, codified training artefacts and evaluation practices, while knowledge-centred and trust-based cultures support informal sharing across teams. At the system level, FSEs provide collaborative platforms where diverse organisations rehearse joint responses, align practices and build collective memory. Effective knowledge and information management further enables dissemination and coordination across agencies. Overall, the findings show that FSEs are not merely training events but critical knowledge infrastructures that link individual expertise, organisational learning and inter-organisational collaboration. By demonstrating how tacit knowledge can be systematically cultivated and institutionalised, the study contributes to theory on knowledge creation and offers practical guidance for enhancing preparedness and resilience in humanitarian operations.​