Blockchain technology for enterprise credit information sharing in supply chain finance


Purpose
Agriculture and cultivation firms are facing severe competition in the saturated market. Due to the characteristics of heavy assets, low investment return, long cycle and high price fluctuation, agri-food firms require innovations for capital support. The purpose of this paper is to provide valuable insights on how firms in the food/agricultural industry approach innovations and reinforce their advantages through functional and structural innovations by adopting supply chain finance (SCF).


Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a single-case study methodology to investigate the innovations and mechanisms taking place at H Corp Agriculture Group (H Corp hereafter), a Chinese egg company.


Findings
The findings of this paper indicate that SCF could have a great impact on supply chain management through functional and structural innovations throughout the supply chain and solve the capital constraint problems in the agricultural development process, promoting the implementation of the integration strategy as well as innovation in the agricultural industry chain. The research also shows that supply chain structural and functional innovations could promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and creating shared value (CSV).


Research limitations/implications
The research contributes to the application of SCF mechanisms and the realization of CSV and CSR jointly – both in the literature and in firms’ practices. It also contributes to the extension of structural and functional innovations and vertical integration of the supply chain. However, generalizability and universality are insufficient for a single case study in the specified industry. Data collection and quantitative analysis could be extended for further research.


Originality/value
The study addresses the need for comprehensive research on SCF and its applications. It proposes effective and efficient strategies for agri-food firms applying SCF to overcome industry capital constraints and develop competitiveness. It also provides a balanced and positive circulation between economic value and social value, realizing CSR and CSV.


The impact of supply chain finance on corporate social responsibility and creating shared value: a case from the emerging economy

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of supply chain risk (SCR) information processing capabilities (e.g. SCR information sharing and SCR information analysis) and supply chain finance (SCF) on supply chain resilience, as well as the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty in the relationship between SCF and supply chain resilience. Design/methodology/approach This paper proposes a theoretical model grounded on the information processing theory. Data collected from 216 Chinese firms are used to test the theoretical model by employing structural equation modelling. Findings The findings reveal that SCR information processing capabilities have a significant impact on both SCF and supply chain resilience. SCF plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between SCR information processing capabilities and supply chain resilience. In addition, environmental uncertainty moderates the relationship between SCF and supply chain resilience. Originality/value First, this paper enriches the knowledge of how information processing capability affects SCF and supply chain resilience as the study considers the more granular SCR information rather than general information that has been discussed in previous studies. Second, this is one of the first papers to establish the relationship between SCF and supply chain resilience in emerging economies. Next, the paper extends the theoretical framework of the antecedents and consequences of SCF. Moreover, the study further facilitates the understanding of the role of the external environment in SCR and SCF management. 

The effects of supply chain risk information processing capability and supply chain finance on supply chain resilience: a moderated and mediated model

The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted several aspects of the society and the economy. A problem that needs prompt attention in this situation is the increasing difficulties faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in raising capital, which has aroused great concern from multiple stakeholders such as public administrations and regulators. As the major supply of capital, financial service providers (FSPs) play a critical role in financing SMEs. However, how FSPs deal with SME financing during shocks has not yet been fully researched. Accordingly, in this study, a theoretical framework based on expectancy theory is proposed to explore the expected strategic adjustments of FSPs in financing SMEs. Specifically, this study investigates 272 FSPs in China on their expectancy and attitude on financing to SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this study has divided FSPs into three categories: commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, and credit-enhanced FSPs. Differences among these categories are compared and analyzed.

/pdf/how-different-types-of-financial-service-providers-support-zfxm4llb3a.pdf

How different types of financial service providers support small- and medium- enterprises under the impact of COVID-19 pandemic: from the perspective of expectancy theory

Bridging production factors allocation and environmental performance of China’s heavy-polluting energy firms: The moderation effect of financing and internationalization

This paper aims to explore how innovation capability and market response capability of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) affect their supply chain financing performance (SCFP) through supply chain financing solutions (SCFS) adoption. At the same time, the mechanism by which supply chain financing reduces information asymmetry before (ex-ante) and after (ex-post) SCFS adoption to promote SCFP is also inquired.,Drawing on enterprise competence theory, this paper proposes a theoretical model and tests it using survey data from a sample of 218 SMEs in China. Multiple regression analysis is employed to test the hypothesis.,The study finds that: (1) SMEs' innovation capability and market response capability positively affect SCFP. (2) SMEs' innovation capability and market response capability exert significantly positive effects on SCFS adoption. (3) SCFS adoption plays a mediating role between SME capabilities and SCFP. (4) Supply chain integration (SCI) and information technology application have no moderating effects on the relationship between SME capabilities and SCFS adoption. Finally, (5) SCI and information technology application have positive moderating effects on the relationship between SCFS adoption and SCFP.,Based on enterprise competence theory, this study sheds light on the internal mechanism through which SMEs' capabilities affect SCFP by introducing SCFS adoption and explores the role of situational factors in SCF in reducing ex-ante and ex-post information asymmetry. This study provides an innovative theoretical perspective on supply chain financing and enriches the existing research.

How can SMEs acquire supply chain financing: the capabilities and information perspective

This paper examines how weak ties and strong ties in the supply chain network influence the financing performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the mediation of information sharing and innovation capability.,Questionnaires were administered to 208 financial managers responsible for supply chain finance in SMEs in China. Data analysis techniques used included multiple regression analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis.,The authors found that weak ties had a more substantial impact on the financing performance of SMEs than strong ties did. Information sharing and innovation capability played a mediating role between weak and strong ties and the financing performance of SMEs. In addition, information sharing and innovation capability complement each other and jointly influence the financing performance of SMEs.,SMEs are suggested to actively embed themselves in the supply chain network to increase financing opportunities and reduce financing costs. The authors also recommend SMEs to enhance the level of their information sharing in the supply chain network and take advantage of their network ties to access and adopt new technology from other organisations and conduct collaborative innovation with partner institutions.,The paper extends the authors’ understanding of supply chain finance by exploring the intrinsic mechanism of how various constructs (weak ties, strong ties, information sharing and innovation capability) in the supply chain network have an impact on the financing performance of SMEs. In particular, the authors explore the under-researched mediating effect of information sharing and innovation capability on the relationship between network ties and the financing performance of SMEs.

Supply chain network and financing performance of small and medium enterprises in China: a survey and quasi-replication using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis


Purpose
As an effective mode to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) raise working capital, supply chain finance has recently gained extensive attention. The purpose of this paper is to explore the intrinsic mechanism of how both weak and strong ties in the supply chain network impact the supply chain financing performance (SCFP) of SMEs from the perspective of the supply chain network.


Design/methodology/approach
Based on the extended resource-based perspective, this paper proposes a theoretical model to explain the mode in which strong ties and weak ties of SMEs in the supply chain network influence SCFP through both physical distribution flexibility and demand management flexibility. Based on data from 182 manufacturing firms in China, this paper uses multiple regression analysis to test hypotheses.


Findings
The results of this paper indicate that weak ties improve SCFP more effectively than strong ties. Furthermore, both physical distribution flexibility and demand management flexibility exert different mediating roles either between strong ties and SCFP or between weak ties and SCFP. Moreover, the effect of physical distribution flexibility and demand management flexibility on SCFP of SMEs is not reinforced.


Originality/value
This paper highlights the importance to expand supply chain finance research from the perspective of the supply chain network. In particular, this paper explores the poorly understood mediating effect both physical distribution flexibility and demand management flexibility exert on the relationship between network ties and the SCFP of SMEs.


Promoting supply chain financing performance of SMEs based on the extended resource-based perspective

In recent years, an increasing number of SMEs have resolved their financing problems through supply chain financing. This study constructs a model of how SME innovation capability and market respon...

How Can SMEs Acquire Supply Chain Financing: The Capabilities and Information Perspective

Based on the resource orchestration perspective, this study attempts to explain the mechanisms underlying the “capabilities-advantages” causality. This is achieved by identifying the effects of different capabilities on small and medium suppliers’ (SMSs) supply chain financing. Based on a dataset of 418 vendors for three Chinese manufacturers, we tested the hypotheses and found that: (a) operational capabilities, including improvement capability and innovation capability, have positive effects, while the effects of digitalization capabilities are complex. This is because the positive effect of information interaction capability is partially mediated by digital technology adoption. (b) Those positive effects of improvement, digital technology adoption and information interaction capability will be stronger under a low level of supply risk. This is the first study to employ the resource orchestration perspective into exploring how to improve the supply chain financing of SMSs. This study also contributes to the research on SMSs’ financing and digitalization. 

Qiang Lu

Papers

How can SMEs acquire supply chain financing: the capabilities and information perspective

Supply chain network and financing performance of small and medium enterprises in China: a survey and quasi-replication using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

Promoting supply chain financing performance of SMEs based on the extended resource-based perspective

How Can SMEs Acquire Supply Chain Financing: The Capabilities and Information Perspective

The effects of operational and digitalization capabilities on SMSs’ supply chain financing under supply risk