Showing papers in "Journal of Business Logistics in 2021"

The Struggle is Real: Insights from a Supply Chain Blockchain Case

Abstract: D espite the anticipated benefits and the numerous announcements of pilot cases, we have seen very few successful implementations of blockchain technology (BCT) solutions in supply chains. Little is empirically known about the obstacles to blockchain adoption, particularly in a supply chain’s interorganizational setting. In supply chains, blockchains’ benefits, for example, BCT-based tracking and tracing, are dependent on a critical mass of supply chain actors adopting the technology. While previous research has mainly been conceptual and has lacked both theory and empirical data, we propose a theory-based model for interorganizational adoption of BCT. We use the proposed model to analyze a unique in-depth revelatory case study. Our case study confirms previous conceptual work and reveals a paradox as well as several tensions between drivers for and against (positive and negative determining factors, respectively) of BCT adoption that must be managed in an interorganizational setting. In this vertical context, the adoption and integration decision of one supply chain actor recursively affects the adoption and integration decisions of the other supply chain actors. This paper contributes midrange theory on BCT in supply chain management (SCM), future research directions, and managerial insights on BCT adoption in supply chains.

The Dark and Bright Sides of Complexity: A Dual Perspective on Supply Network Resilience

Abstract: Supply networks are regularly affected by events that trigger supply disruptions, entailing severe consequences for firms and their supply networks Hence, the ability of firms to withstand and recover from disruptions (ie, their resilience) is vital to their long‐term survival Prior research suggests that the complexity of a firm’s supply network is critical in determining its resilience to disruptions, but tensions arise when delineating the precise nature of the relationship between supply network complexity and resilience In this research, we investigate whether and how three facets of supply network complexity—supply complexity (nodes in the network), logistics complexity (arcs in the network), and product complexity (contents moving through the network)—influence a firm’s ability to resist and recover from disruptions We empirically investigate this relationship in the context of automotive sector shipments from Japan to the United States before, during, and after the 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami, using the difference‐in‐differences technique Results indicate that the relationship between supply network complexity and resilience is multifaceted; some aspects of supply network complexity intensify disruption impact, whereas others enhance disruption recovery

Managing Extended Supply Chains

Abstract: We address how to manage extended supply chains that lie beyond the first-tier suppliers. The first-tier suppliers have their suppliers who provide them with goods or services. While lower-tier suppliers are often not an explicit concern of the focal firm, the firm's performance not only depends on the performance of its first-tier suppliers, but also on the performance of their suppliers and beyond. These lower-tier suppliers are much less visible and may not even be known to the focal firm. Our intention is to bring awareness to the importance of these lower-tier suppliers and capture possible strategies that buying companies may pursue to manage them. Extended supply chains are complex and involve evolving relationships between various buyers and suppliers that are located along different tiers of the chain and across different parts of the globe. We address several topic areas and suggest emerging research focuses that should be considered in coming years. (Less)