Benefits and Challenges of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Resilience, Agility, and Sustainability Performance: a Multiple Case Study.
2021 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Sustainable development
Sustainable Development
Abstract [en]
Background: In today’s globalized and fast-changing, environment interconnectedness and collaborations between the participants in the supply chain are crucial for improving overall performance. However, existing literature identifies a lack of collaboration and visibility as one of the main problems in today’s supply chains. The appearance of blockchain technology and the realization of its benefits for the supply chain triggered an increasing number of researchers to study this topic and companies intending to increase the main capabilities of the supply chains to implement it.
Purpose: We identify a gap in the existing literature that connects the implementation of blockchain technology with the supply chain and its main capabilities. Thus, this study investigates the influence of the technology on the supply chain’s capabilities and the challenges of the technology implementation.
Method: Depending on the researchers’ relativism and constructivism, we chose a qualitative multiple case study, with three companies that offered us three different perspectives, including a perspective from a company that did a feasibility study, insights from a company that is a technology service provider, and a company that did the pilot study with the same service provider.
Conclusion: Our thesis analysed the influence of blockchain technology on supply chain resilience, agility, sustainability, and the challenges of the implementation. The review of the existing literature and our empirical findings confirm that blockchain technology can improve information sharing, transparency, collaboration, and efficiency within supply chains. Nonetheless, one must bear in mind the limitations of the technology, as it requires a high organizational structure, developed IT- infrastructure, and the increase of awareness about the benefits and challenges of the technology.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021. , p. 56
Keywords [en]
blockchain benefits, blockchain challenges, blockchain technology, supply chain resilience, agility, sustainability
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-52741ISRN: JU-IHH-FÖA-1-20211359OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-52741DiVA, id: diva2:1560806
Subject / course
JIBS, Business Administration
Supervisors
Examiners
2021-06-242021-06-042021-06-24Bibliographically approved