Eine Fallstudien-Untersuchung zu den Voraussetzungen und Bedingungen für den praktischen Nutzen von Blockchain- Anwendungen im Supply Chain Management

Since the global proliferation of Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency underlying blockchain technology has become known as one of the most disruptive innovations of recent years. In the media, at conferences as well as in scientific papers, the blockchain technology was said to have the potential to fundamentally change entire value chains and society in the coming years. However, apart from a few other cryptocurrencies, the technology has failed to materialize its projected potential. Many companies have started to question whether and how the blockchain technology will change their business and value chains in practice. This dissertation has addressed the new phenomenon of 'blockchain technology' by using a case study methodology to examine five specific blockchain applications in supply chain management. Based on theoretical considerations as well as a critical literature review, this doctoral thesis developed a conceptual model of a blockchain application. It then has been used to examine and analyze five different cases of blockchain applications in their respective context. For data collection, qualitative interviews were conducted with experts directly involved in the analyzed blockchain applications. In addition, for some case studies, publicly available documents were also evaluated. With the case study research this dissertation aims at finding answers to the question which prerequisites and conditions must be fulfilled in practice so that blockchain technology can be used in supply chain management in a way that creates added value. The research reveals four prerequisites and seven conditions that a blockchain application and its context must fulfill to generate added value for supply chain management in practice. Based on these findings, the thesis then provides clear recommendations for organizations that are considering an application of blockchain technology. It becomes thereby clear that blockchain applications in supply chain management can only generate added value in practice in specific cases and under very particular prerequisites and conditions.