Exploring blockchain adoption intentions in the supply chain: perspectives from innovation diffusion and institutional theory

Abstract

PurposeDespite blockchain's potential supply chain benefits, few organizations have moved beyond pilot projects. The paper aims to explore blockchain adoption intentions for supply chain applications using two theoretical perspectives: innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and institutional theory (IT).Design/methodology/approachBased on theory, five propositions were developed addressing the intention to adopt blockchain. The propositions were tested using scenario-based experiments with supply chain professionals. To provide additional insights, interviews with 21 supply chain professionals in 15 organizations representing 8 industries were content analyzed.FindingsExperiments suggest that the intention to adopt blockchain is higher when there are government regulations regarding product origin, organizations are using updated cloud-based information systems and organizations are working with third-party consultants. The content analysis suggests that organizations that face normative pressures to adopt blockchain supply chain applications and recognize blockchain's relative advantage, compatibility and complexity are more likely to be actively seeking information about and adopting blockchain supply chain applications. The authors synthesize findings and provide new propositions to guide future research.Originality/valueUsing a multi-method approach, the study provides an important window into supply chain managers' perceptions of the necessary conditions to support organization-level blockchain adoption. The findings also indicate key characteristics present in supply chain networks poised for blockchain adoption.

Blockchain adoption and operational performance: A secondary data analysis on effects and contingencies

“…Consistent with the results of Kl€ ockner et al (2022), this additional variable was also not significant. Both the original hypothesis (H6) and this extension assumed that BT is subject to network effects (Hartley et al, 2022;Schmidt and Wagner, 2019). We thus concluded that -at least at the current level of maturity and diffusion (Durach et al, 2021;Kl€ ockner et al, 2022) -the relevance of network effects in determining the value of BT is limited, as firms mostly implement initiatives involving their current supplier/customer base.…”

“…The first hypothesis concerns regulation [1], namely those rules and acts with which organizations must comply in terms of transparency, disclosure, traceability, and obligations/restrictions associated with their activities (Hartley et al, 2022;Kalmenovitz, 2023). Regulation has different intensity levels depending on the industry; thus, it is a relevant contingent factor to investigate.…”

“…Regulation has different intensity levels depending on the industry; thus, it is a relevant contingent factor to investigate. Relevant examples of such regulations mentioned in the BT literature are customs clearance, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, the conflict minerals rule (Dodd-Frank Act), the European Union's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, and the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) (Hartley et al, 2022). Regardless of the specific aspects covered by such directives, extant research emphasizes that "in heavily regulated industries, the managing of data can be overwhelming.…”

Blockchain technology in supply chain management: an organizational theoretic overview and research agenda

“…The study found out that complexity, cost, competitive pressure, and relative advantage had significant effects on behavioural intention. Innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and institutional theory (IT) too have been utilised to check the intention to use the BT in industries (Hartley et al, 2022 ; Hew et al, 2020 ). Wamba and Queiroz ( 2022 ) applied a set of five theories to empirically study intention to adopt BT.…”

“…Hence, scholars can explore questions such as “Why would BT generated transparency and trust lead to better SC relationships, SC integration and SC performance?”. To answer the questions, scholars can explore various theories to address the issues of “causality, explanation, prediction and generalization” from various disciplines such as information sciences and utilise theories such as social exchange theory (Wang et al, 2021b ), institutional theory (Hartley et al, 2022 ), resource based view (Wamba & Queiroz, 2022 ), transaction cost economics (Roeck et al, 2020 ), etc. (Dubey et al, 2022 ).…”