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Theoretical Exploration of Supply Chain Viability Utilizing Blockchain Technology

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  • Weili Yin

    (Logistics School, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

  • Wenxue Ran

    (Logistics School, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

Abstract

As a disruptive and innovative technology, blockchain will significantly revolutionize how organizations produce and operate as global rivalry intensifies. The global COVID-19 outbreak, combined with the growing complexity of supply chain networks, has exposed supply chains’ vulnerability to disruption. Therefore, improving the supply chain viability is the primary way to deal with the risk of supply chain disruption. Using the method of literature research, this conceptual paper systematically reviewed and sorted out relevant literature, extracted corresponding capabilities, and put forward relevant research propositions. From the perspective of the resource-based view and resource-dependent theory, this study investigates specific dimensions of the blockchain-enabled supply chain capability: connectivity, network capability, and supply chain reconfiguration and the impact of external resource-dependent capability on the viability of the supply chain. The propositions show that the blockchain-enabled supply chain capability, and external resource-dependent capability will positively impact supply chain viability. It is expected to assist supply chain firms in implementing blockchain technology to increase supply chain viability and improve their capacity to achieve sustainable supply chain development during the crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Weili Yin & Wenxue Ran, 2021. "Theoretical Exploration of Supply Chain Viability Utilizing Blockchain Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8231-:d:600004
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    3. Wong, Lai-Wan & Tan, Garry Wei-Han & Ooi, Keng-Boon & Chan, Hing Kai, 2024. "Blockchains for SMEs: A Fit-Viability perspective moderated by organizational innovation diffusion for supply chain performance," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    4. Priyanka Vern & Anupama Panghal & Rahul S Mor & Sachin S. Kamble & Md. Shamimul Islam & Syed Abdul Rehman Khan, 2023. "Influential barriers to blockchain technology implementation in agri-food supply chain," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 1206-1219, September.
    5. Nishant Saravanan & Jessica Olivares-Aguila & Alejandro Vital-Soto, 2022. "Bibliometric and Text Analytics Approaches to Review COVID-19 Impacts on Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-33, November.
    6. Ul Akram, Manzoor & Islam, Nazrul & Chauhan, Chetna & Zafar Yaqub, Muhammad, 2024. "Resilience and agility in sustainable supply chains: A relational and dynamic capabilities view," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Sumit Kumar Rana & Hee-Cheol Kim & Subhendu Kumar Pani & Sanjeev Kumar Rana & Moon-Il Joo & Arun Kumar Rana & Satyabrata Aich, 2021. "Blockchain-Based Model to Improve the Performance of the Next-Generation Digital Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Mehmet Fatih Acar & Alev Özer Torgalöz & Enes Eryarsoy & Selim Zaim & Salomée Ruel, 2024. "The effect of organizational culture, supplier trust and information sharing on supply chain viability," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1058-1077, September.
    9. Jacob Lohmer & Elias Ribeiro da Silva & Rainer Lasch, 2022. "Blockchain Technology in Operations & Supply Chain Management: A Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-88, May.
    10. Salhieh Loah & Abutineh Shatha, 2025. "Assessing lean practices within third-party logistics services providers in Jordan," Logistics, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Global Challenges, Sciendo, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18.
    11. Weili Yin & Wenxue Ran, 2023. "Explaining Firm Performance During the COVID-19 With fsQCA: The Role of Supply Network Complexity, Inventory Turns, and Geographic Dispersion," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    12. Zhu, Qingyun & Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "Blockchain technology and supply chains: The paradox of the atheoretical research discourse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    13. Lewis A. Njualem, 2022. "Leveraging Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Sustainability: A Provenance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.

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