To read this content please select one of the options below:

A multi-method study on the barriers of the blockchain technology application in the cold supply chains

Makungu Meriot Chavalala (Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Surajit Bag (Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad, India)
Jan Harm Christiaan Pretorius (Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Muhammad Sabbir Rahman (Department of Marketing and International Business, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Journal of Enterprise Information Management

ISSN: 1741-0398

Article publication date: 2 December 2022

724

Abstract

Purpose

The cold supply chain industry is still emerging and digital transformation is in the nascent stage in this industry. This paper argues that there are various barriers to implementing blockchain technology in the cold supply chain and aims to develop and validate a model for overcoming key barriers to implementing blockchain technology in the cold supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The adoption of blockchain technology was proposed through interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and further it is validated using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

In this study, ten key barriers to implementing blockchain technology in the cold supply chain were identified, modelled and analysed. Poor leadership style of top management was found to be the most important barriers to implementing blockchain technology in the cold supply chain. The results of SEM indicate that all the paths are supported. The findings showcase the barriers responsible for the lack of blockchain technology infrastructure that ultimately impacts the cold supply chains.

Practical implications

This study highlights the fact that the fate of blockchain technology infrastructure development depends on the leadership style of top management. Demonstrating good leadership style by top management can help overcome the barriers. A good leader pulls the entire team instead of pushing the team. A good leader can guide the entire team to improve IT governance, financial investment, digital footprint, digital readiness, skills and collaboration with service providers to implement blockchain technology. Not only that, a good leader provides mental strength to the team and helps overcome the fear of implementing blockchain in the cold supply chain. A good leader demonstrates good administrative skills and focus on security and privacy policies.

Originality/value

This is a novel contribution towards analysing the key barriers to implementing blockchain technology in the South African cold supply chain using the integrated ISM–MICMAC and SEM approach.

Keywords

Citation

Chavalala, M.M., Bag, S., Pretorius, J.H.C. and Rahman, M.S. (2022), "A multi-method study on the barriers of the blockchain technology application in the cold supply chains", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-06-2022-0209

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles