Utilizing blockchain technology for supply chain transparency: A resource orchestration perspective

Abstract

Driven by pressures from multiple stakeholders, supply chain transparency (SCT) has emerged as a phenomenon of increased interest. To address concerns about practices and processes at point of origin locations for raw materials in global supply chains, blockchain technology (BCT) has the potential to enhance SCT. Supply chain research has started to advance the field's understanding of SCT, but many questions remain, including how SCT should be conceptualized, how firms can effectively facilitate it, and the benefits of providing it, especially when BCT is utilized. The gaps suggest the need for fundamental theoretical development about the resources and capabilities underlying the development, application, and derived value of SCT. This research designed a case study around a BCT implementation project between a small artisan coffee producer and a startup BCT service provider. Using the resource orchestration perspective, the findings result in theoretical insights about how the mechanisms in structuring, bundling, and leveraging processes operate to offer SCT to stakeholders, and the value creation derived as a result.

Expanding supply chain management and logistics research: A year in review

“…It also highlights our desire to expand the Journal's focus to upstream issues that have been everpresent in firms but outside of JBL's traditional focus (Ellram & Tate, 2021). Finally, this issue underscores the importance of examining new L&SCM issues that most firms have yet to embrace but grapple to understand (Gligor et al 2021). Miller et al (2021b) address the effect of an important policy change in the U.S. trucking industry.…”

“…Finally, Gligor et al (2021) offer more understanding of supply chain transparency (SCT) in, "Utilizing blockchain technology for supply chain transparency: A resource orchestration perspective." More specifically, the authors follow and document a blockchain technology implementation project for a small artisanal coffee company in Italy to understand how SCT can be conceptualized and effectively facilitated through the use of this technology.…”

“…The papers published in 2021 also reflect a variety of data sources and the application of rigorous methodological approaches. Because of the novelty of many of the phenomena of interest, Volume 42 offered rich case studies that utilized both multiple cases (Ellram & Tate, 2021;Plasch et al 2021) and single cases (Gligor et al 2021;. Rich qualitative data were also used in a thematic analysis (Nath et al 2021).…”

A research agenda to reflect reality: On being responsive

“…Finally, in "Utilizing blockchain technology for supply chain transparency: A resource orchestration perspective", Gligor et al (2022) utilize a case study to understand how resources can be orchestrated to develop supply chain transparency (SCT)-the disclosure of sustainable practices and/or production processes to the stakeholders. The authors offer a theoretical framework for understanding the structuring, bundling and leveraging processes, and they contextualize the managerial action required to accumulate, combine, and exploit resources.…”

Sustainability in the Coffee Supply Chain and Purchasing Policies: A Case Study Research

“…In addition, the use of smart technologies and tools, such as the Internet of Things, remote sensing, and blockchain, have the potential to develop sustainability [42], particularly the use of blockchain to ensure traceability of raw materials, materials, products, and processes [43]. However, the use of such technologies should not reduce the amount of contracted labor in order to be sustainable from a social point of view.…”