Effect of blockchain technology–supply chain risk fit on new product development performance: The moderating role of supply chain upgrading

Abstract

As the most disruptive information technology at present, blockchain technology has considerable application potential in supply chain risk management. On the basis of technology–task fit theory, this study aims to theorize and examine blockchain technology and supply chain risk management by proposing a set of research hypotheses. To achieve this, blockchain technology is classified into two main characteristics, namely, traceability and security, and categorized supply chain risks into supply, demand, and process risks. This study also empirically validates the conceptual framework and proposes hypotheses using structural equation modeling, with 355 Chinese manufacturing firms as the research sample. Empirical findings demonstrate that all the three types of risk and the two main characteristics of blockchain (i.e., blockchain traceability and security) positively contribute to the supply chain risk–blockchain technology fit. Results also suggest that the supply chain risk–blockchain technology fit positively affects new product development (NPD) performance. In addition, the relationship between supply chain risk–blockchain technology fit and NPD performance is positively moderated by global value chain upgrading.