Blockchain has gained strong interest for applications in the supply chain (SC). Many organizations have experimented with the technology. However, few solutions are implemented at scale, stressing the need for a better understanding of how different SC contexts influence decisions made regarding blockchain adoption, application and scalability. Despite the growing literature examining the factors influencing blockchain adoption, very little contemporary guidance is available to support organizations' decisions on when to consider blockchain for SC applications or where to apply blockchain within complex supply network configurations. This study uses a contingency theory lens to analyze four case studies of leading organizations’ blockchain projects to gain an in-depth understanding of the decisions made and the dominant contingent factors that influenced blockchain decisions in different SC contexts. We develop an evidence-based decision framework that provides new guidance on four critical aspects: when blockchain technology should be considered in the SC, the type of blockchain to deploy, the selection of SC application areas, and the identification of an appropriate blockchain partnership. The study has significant theoretical and practical implications for researchers and practitioners interested in blockchain use in SC applications and the development of sustainable and scalable blockchain solutions.
Ahmed et al. (Thu,) studied this question.