Boundary conditions for traceability in food supply chains using blockchain technology

Traceability of ingredients in food supply chains has become paramount in a world in which markets become global, heterogeneous, and complex and in which consumers expect a high level of quality. The food supply chain consists of many organizations having different interests and are often reluctant to share traceability information with each other. Blockchain has been advocated for improving traceability by providing trust. Yet, practice proved to be more stubborn. The goal of this paper is to identify boundary conditions for sharing assurance information to improve traceability. Four cases in the food supply chain have been investigated using a template analysis of 16 interviews. Eighteen boundary conditions categorized in business, regulation, quality and traceability categories have been identified. Some boundary conditions were found in all supply chains, whereas others were found to be supply chain specific. Standardization of traceability processes and interfaces, having a joint platform and independent governance were found to be key boundary conditions before blockchain can be used. Our findings imply that supply chain systems have first to be modified and organizational measures need to be taken to fulfill the boundary conditions, before blockchain can be used successfully.     

Modeling the blockchain enabled traceability in agriculture supply chain

Blockchain Technology (BT) has led to a disruption in the supply chain by removing the trust related issues. Studies are being conducted worldwide to leverage the benefits provided by BT in improving the performance of the supply chains. The literature reveals BT to offer various benefits leading to improvements in the sustainable performance of the agriculture supply chains (ASC). It is expected that BT will bring a paradigm shift in the way the transactions are carried in the ASC by reducing the high number of intermediaries, delayed payments and high transaction lead times. India, a developing economy, caters to the food security needs of an ever-growing population and faces many challenges affecting ASC sustainability. It is therefore essential to adopt BT in the ASC to leverage the various benefits. In this study, we identify and establish the relationships between the enablers of BT adoption in ASC. Thirteen enablers were identified from the literature and validated by the experts before applying a combined Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology to envision the complex causal relationships between the identified BT enablers. The findings from the study suggest that, among the identified enablers, traceability was the most significant reason for BT implementation in ASC followed by auditability, immutability, and provenance. The findings of the study will help the practitioners to design the strategies for BT implementation in agriculture, creating a real-time data-driven ASC. The results will also help the policymakers in developing policies for faster implementation of BT ensuring food safety and sustainable ASCs.     

原材料供需失衡条件下农产品供应链质量安全博弈分析

构建原材料供需失衡条件下农产品供应链质量安全博弈模型,对原材料供应商和生产商的行为进行定量分析。研究发现,模型存在3个均衡,分别代表农产品供应链质量风险高、中、低3种情况,不同均衡出现的条件取决于外界对供应商和生产商的质量检查水平。在原材料供应商随机掺假的情况下,市场的原材料供应越紧张,农产品供应链质量风险越高。研究结论为农产品质量安全监管机构的政策制定提供一定的理论依据。     

Blockchain in the operations and supply chain management: Benefits,challenges and future research opportunities

Blockchain technologies have captured the imagination of scholars, managers, and practitioners around the world. It is widely accepted by these actors that blockchain is not a buzzword, but a highly disruptive technology that is already remodeling the organizations and their supply chain business models. Despite the meaningful advance in the last years, blockchain applications regarding the operations and supply chain management (OSCM) are still in their infancy. Little is known about the role of blockchain in terms of operations traceability, as well in areas such as e-commerce, agriculture, public services, etc. Therefore, this Special Issue seeks to extend our understanding of blockchain applications in OSCM and how firms create and capture business value with blockchain. To this effect, this Special Issue will provide a well-articulated and in-depth discussion of the role of blockchain in creating value in the domain of OSCM. Specifically, it is expected that more light is shed on how blockchain integrates with and impacts new business models, transforms relationships, and improves performance and competitive advantage in OSCM. Also, the evolution of blockchain was reviewed in order to provide a strong background to the readers. The literature review was performed taking into account a bibliometric perspective of blockchain-related publications. The review supports the importance of this Special Issue by highlighting the urgent needs of this topic in this reputable journal. Finally, we provide future research directions and a guide for the papers presented in this Special Issue.     

供应链视角下食品质量安全风险的ISM技术解析

从食品供应链的视角出发,提出食品质量安全风险的概念及内涵。采用内容分析法,根据国内外文献分析、实际调研及专家访谈的结果,探究供应链视角下的食品质量安全风险因素及其产生根源。在此基础上,利用ISM技术,建立风险因素结构模型,给出供应链视角下的食品质量安全风险因素之间的相互影响关系,进而揭示供应链视角下食品质量安全风险的生成机理。该研究成果将有助于进一步拓展供应链环境下食品质量安全风险演变规律的理论研究与实践应用。     

基于ISM技术的食品供应链质量安全风险传导动因分析

根据国内外文献综合分析、大量调研及专家访谈,提出诱发供应链环境下食品质量安全风险传导的九大关键动因。在此基础上,利用ISM技术,构建食品供应链质量安全风险传导动因的五级递阶结构模型,从而清晰表征各种风险传导动因之间相互影响的等级层次关系。进而揭示驱动食品质量安全风险在食品供应链上进行传导的最直接动因和最根本动因,同时还可以清楚地看出各诱发动因对食品质量安全风险传导后果影响的作用路径。     

Analysing the impact of blockchain-technology for operations and supply chain management: An explanatory model drawn from multiple case studies

Blockchain technology is said to have a high disruptive potential and can do without an intermediary. Numerous contributions deal with its impact on and possibilities for logistics and supply chains. In this article, we use a multiple case analysis to develop an explanatory model for the interaction of actors in an operational supply chain involving blockchain technology. In addition, we show which intermediary tasks the blockchain could replace and what impact this would have on the industry logic. For this purpose, we analyze the status quo in practice based on a multiple case study with real use cases and find answers to our research questions. The findings of the paper include (1) insights into the impact of blockchain technology on the logistics industry, and (2) the implications and research questions related to blockchain technology and the impact of blockchain technology on business models.     

供应链运作风险对企业竞争能力及绩效影响的实证研究

供应链风险问题日益凸显,相关研究刚刚起步。本文基于对中国制造企业调研的176份数据,利用层析回归分析的方法,研究基于不确定性的供应链运作风险对企业竞争能力及绩效的影响。研究结果表明,基于不确定性的供应链运作风险对企业竞争能力并非完全是负面影响(供应风险负向影响产品质量、交付可靠以及流程柔性三种竞争能力,需求风险则促进企业提高产品质量和交付可靠,技术风险促使企业提升流程柔性);同时,流程柔性可以直接促进运作绩效和财务绩效,而产品质量和交付可靠则是通过运作绩效来间接提升财务绩效。     

关系强度、知识整合能力与供应链知识效率转移研究

建立紧密的伙伴关系通常被认为是提升供应链知识转移效率的重要手段,但因多数研究者忽视了供应链知识的特性和个体知识整合能力的差异,导致研究结论与实际有很大的不同。本文在理论分析的基础上,采用问卷调查的方式探讨关系强度、知识整合能力与供应链知识转移之间的关系。研究结果显示:关系强度只对供应链协同性知识转移和外部整合能力存在着明显的正向影响,而对创新性知识和内部整合能力则不存在这种影响,透过知识外部整合能力,关系强度对供应链协同性转移的间接影响高于其直接影响,加强知识整合能力建设是企业利用伙伴关系提升供应链协同性知识转移效率的关键。     

Blockchain adoption challenges in supply chain: An empirical investigation of the main drivers in India and the USA

The digitalization phenomenon is leveraging new relationship models through the entire supply chain network. In this outlook, blockchain is a cutting-edge technology that is already transforming and remodeling the relationships between all members of logistics and supply chain systems. Yet, while studies on blockchain have gained a relative pace over the recent years, the literature on this topic does not report sufficient research cases on blockchain adoption behavior at the individual level. The present study, therefore, aims to bridge this gap, notably by helping understand the individual blockchain adoption behavior in the logistics and supply chain field in India and the USA. Drawing on the emerging literature on blockchain, supply chain and network theory, as well as on technology acceptance models (TAMs), we have developed a model based on a slightly-altered version of the classical unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The model being developed was then estimated using the Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). As the model was eventually supported, the results obtained revealed the existence of distinct adoption behaviors between India-based and USA-based professionals. In parallel, the findings appear as a useful contribution to and a sign of progress for the literature on IT adoption, SCM, and blockchain.     

Time to seize the digital evolution: Adoption of blockchain in operations and supply chain management among Malaysian SMEs

This study aims to investigate the effects of relative advantage, complexity, upper management support, cost, market dynamics, competitive pressure and regulatory support on blockchain adoption for operations and supply chain management among Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Unlike existing studies that employed linear models with Technology Acceptance Model or United Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology that ignores the organisational and environmental factors, we adopted the Technology, Organisation and Environment Framework that covers the technological dimensions of relative advantage and complexity, organisational dimensions of upper management support and cost and environmental dimensions of market dynamics, competitive pressure and regulatory support. Empirical data from 194 SMEs were investigated and ranked using a nonlinear non-compensatory PLS-ANN approach. Competitive pressure, complexity, cost and relative have significant effects on behavioural intention. Market dynamics, regulatory support and upper management support were insignificant predictors. SMEs often lack resources for technological investments but faces same requirements for streamlining business processes to optimise returns and blockchain presents a viable option for SMEs’ sustainability due to its features of immutability, transparency and security that have the potential to revolutionise businesses. This study contributes new knowledge to the literature on factors that affect blockchain adoption and justifications were discussed accordingly.     

碳税政策下基于供应链视角的最优减排与定价策略及协调

鉴于众多学者从宏观和微观层面研究了碳税对二氧化碳减排效果和企业生产决策的影响,本文首次从供应链的视角建立了集中式和分散式决策模型,分别讨论了碳税政策下制造商和零售商的最优二氧化碳减排和定价策略,以及税率对单位产品二氧化碳减排量和销售价格的影响。研究表明:碳税政策下单位产品的二氧化碳减排量和销售价格不仅依赖于碳税税率,还与其初始二氧化碳排放量以及供应链的决策方式有关。此外,碳税政策下分散式决策存在"双重边际效应"问题,于是通过两部定价合同实现了供应链的完美协调。最后通过数值仿真进一步验证了相应的结论,并就如何提高供应链的减排效率给出了一些建议和对策。     

The impact of consumer trust on attitudinal loyalty and purchase intentions in B2C e-marketplaces: Intermediary trust vs. seller trust

The online merchant of an e-marketplace consists of an intermediary, providing the market infrastructure, and the community of sellers conducting business within that infrastructure. Typically, consumers willingly buy from unknown sellers within an e-marketplace, despite the apparent risk, since they trust the institutional mechanisms furnished by the relatively well-known intermediary. Consumers’ trust in one component of the e-marketplace merchant may not only affect their trust in the other, but also influence the way consumers make online purchases. This paper explores the impact of trust on consumer behavior in e-marketplaces. An empirical study has been conducted to accomplish our research objectives, using a questionnaire survey of 222 active e-marketplace shoppers in Korea. The results reveal that consumer trust in an intermediary has a strong influence upon both attitudinal loyalty and purchase intentions, although consumer trust in the community of sellers has no significant effect on the two constructs representing consumer behavior. In addition, it was found that trust is transferred from an intermediary to the community of sellers, implying that the trustworthiness of the intermediary plays a critical role in determining the extent to which consumers trust and accept the sellers in the e-marketplace. This paper offers some implications from the findings of the research.     

The impact of IT on supply chain agility and firm performance: An empirical investigation

This study investigates the impact of information technology (IT) on supply chain agility measured by the ability to sense and respond to market changes, and the impact supply chain agility has on firm performance. Data were collected from supply chain executives at 193 U.S. manufacturing firms. The results suggest that IT improves the supply chain's ability to sense market changes by improving the adequacy, accuracy, accessibility, and timeliness of the information flows among members of the supply chain. IT also increases the supply chain's ability to respond to market changes by reducing the cost, and improving the quality and timeliness of developing and executing coordinated plans to respond to market changes throughout the supply chain. Importantly, the results indicate that enhanced supply chain agility has positive impacts on the firm's sales, market share, profitability, speed to market, and customer satisfaction.     

Mediation effect of business process and supply chain management capabilities on the impact of IT on firm performance: Evidence from Chinese firms

Motivated by the seeming presence of the productivity paradox in China, this research revisits the question of how information technology (IT) affects firm performance. Leveraging the process-based view of IT, we establish a theoretical framework for the mediation factors for the relationship between IT capabilities and performance. Based on a survey of 127 companies in China, we find that a firm's management capabilities to manage both its internal and external business processes fully mediate the impact of IT on firm performance. The two management capabilities in this study are business-process management capability and supply-chain management capability. Our results show that only the coherent integration of IT capability with firm’s ability to optimize business processes and to improve management of supply chains can enhance firm performance. Firms should avoid the fallacy that IT investments are solely responsible for better firm performance. Based on our findings, we discuss the implications for research and practice.     

集群式供应链与物流逆向化分析--以东莞IT产业为例

传统产业集群理论一般将所研究的企业赋予一般化和抽象化处理，弱化了集群中企业差异性（生产制造型企业、营销型企业、技术研发型企业和服务型企业）以及这种差异分化对集群发展和未来竞争力的影响。从实际上来看，集群产业结构模式升级与企业在集群产业价值链中地位变动及物流逆向化紧密联系。为此本文以东莞IT产业为例，通过供应链视角将这些位于同一价值链的处于不同环节企业联系起来，对他们地位变动和集群（供应链）发展进行动态分析，解释低级集群向高级集群发展的模式，及与物流逆向化的相关关系。     

The effects of e-business processes in supply chain operations: Process component and value creation mechanisms

Using a process component lens, this paper decomposes an e-business process into technical, relational, and business components. We then draw on resource orchestration theory to identify two managerial actions, resources structuring and capabilities leveraging in using e-business process components, to explain how these three components work together to improve competitive performance in supply chain operations. Two interesting insights emerge from our empirical research corresponds to value creation mechanisms. First, we identify the critical three portfolio effects to promote platform architecture flexibility and partner engagement to develop e-business operations capabilities (EBOCs) in three major e-business processes. Second, we reveal the transformation effect of EBOCs in different e-business processes in obtaining competitive performance. The notion of portfolio and transformation mechanisms of e-business process components offers theoretical and practical implications for developing successful digital supply chain platform.     

The impact of inertia and user satisfaction on the continuance intentions to use mobile communication applications: A mobile service quality perspective

Vendors of mobile communication applications/services (apps) aim at improve their designs to attract and retain users, and thus achieve the critical mass needed to ensure the success of their services. Despite the significant number of prior mobile service studies, few works have examined the effects of inertia and satisfaction on the users’ continuance intention with regard to specific mobile communication apps from a mobile-service-quality perspective. By integrating the mobile service quality framework, inertia, and user satisfaction, this study develops a model for interpreting the development of the continuance intention of users of mobile communication apps. Data collected from 238 users of such apps provided support for the model. The results indicated that interaction quality, environment quality, inertia, and user satisfaction are key determinants of continuance intention, while outcome quality is not. The theoretical and practical implications of this work are discussed.     

非正式网络对双元创新的影响:吸收能力的中介作用和环境动态性的调节作用

分别以非正式网络、双元创新、吸收能力和环境动态性为自变量、因变量、中介变量和调节变量,以227家高新技术企业为样本,通过理论分析与实证研究,揭示非正式网络对双元创新的影响以及吸收能力的中介作用和环境动态性的调节作用.实证结果表明:(1)非正式网路对双元创新有显著的正向作用;(2)潜在吸收能力在非正式网络与渐进性创新之间...     

技术并购在行业创新价值链中的作用机制研究：信息技术赋能的调节作用

基于创新价值链理论,对2007—2019年中国37个工业细分行业的面板数据进行固定效应回归分析,实证检验技术并购对于行业创新的影响机制和效果,以及信息技术赋能在其中的调节作用。研究发现,技术并购作为行业创新价值链上重要的外部资源导入方式,对行业的产品创新绩效有显著的促进作用,并且技术创新绩效在两者之间起中介作用;信息技术赋能正向调节创新价值链中技术并购与行业创新绩效之间的直接关系以及中介过程的后半路径。研究结果在行业层次上从技术资源外部导入的视角为创新价值链的研究,并为通过技术并购和信息技术赋能推动行业高质量发展提供参考。