Blockchain-supported business model design, supply chain resilience, and firm performance

Supply chain resilience (SCR) is imperative for operation and performance continuity in the presence of disruptions. One of the important SCR capabilities is end-to-end visibility which can be supported by Blockchain technology in facilitating transparency, traceability, and trust in using data and information. Meanwhile, Blockchain can change and enhance the existing efficiency- and novelty-oriented business model design (BMD). However, the impact of Blockchain-supported BMD on SCR and firm performance has not been investigated so far. This study fills this research gap and empirically examines the relationships among BMD, SCR, and firm performance with consideration of Blockchain technology and using data collected from Chinese firms. Our findings contribute to the literature by revealing the antecedents of SCR and its mediating role between Blockchain-enabled BMD and firm performance. We also provide insights into enhancing SCR in light of the Blockchain-supported BMD. Our research offers several important findings. We demonstrate that companies with high strategic emphasis on BM efficiency can achieve higher firm performance and SCR through Blockchain usage than those without such a focus. This emphasizes the importance of process transparency and information symmetry which can be implemented by Blockchain. Blockchain-enabled novelty-centered BMD significantly enhances the agility part of SCR. SCR can improve firm performance acting as an intermediary between efficiency-centered BMD and firm performance.