Despite the hype about blockchains among supply chain management (SCM) practitioners and researchers, the technology’s adoption is still low, and confusion remains about its potential benefits for operational efficiency and effectiveness. Building on a multiple case study research, this paper clarifies current value creation opportunities enabled by the blockchain for product/material tracking and tracing. We highlight that the setup of blockchain projects depends on the presence of different drivers on customer value or efficiency and the focus towards products/components or raw materials. Based on how tracking and tracing drivers and focus influence the initial blockchain setup, contingent factors are discussed and possible evolutionary patterns are identified. These findings are elaborated in one setup matrix and three propositions. The study is one of the few to add empirical evidence to the mainly conceptual SCM blockchain literature and provides a middle-range theoretical contribution based on contingency theory. Furthermore, it offers actionable guidance for managers and policy makers about SCM blockchain adoption.
- Blockchain in supply chain management: a multiple case study analysis on setups, contingent factors, and evolutionary patterns
- Philipp Christopher Sauer - Free University of Bozen-BolzanoGuido Orzes - Free University of Bozen-BolzanoG Culot - University of Udine
- Production Planning and Control, (Special Issue: Industry Experiences of Blockchain and Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness)
- 0953-7287
- 1366-5871
- Taylor and Francis Group
- 56
- (UNIBZ)42140911
991006602798301241 - 2-s2.0-85145072453
- CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0
- Faculty of Engineering
- English
- Journal article
- Sauer PC, Orzes G, Culot G
- unibz-area: Industrial Engineering and Automation
ERC: Management; marketing; organisational behaviour; operations management
ERCCODE: SH1_10
MIURSSD: Ingegneria economico-gestionale
MIURSSDCODE: ING-IND/35