Factors Affecting the Use of Blockchain Technology in Humanitarian Supply Chain: A Novel Fuzzy Large-Scale Group-DEMATEL

Abstract

Based on previous evidence, the use of blockchain for improving Supply Chains (SCs) regarding humanitarian projects has received attention over the past five years. The present study is innovative in investigating crucial parameters affecting the using of Blockchain Technology (BT) in Humanitarian Supply Chains (HSCs). More precisely, this study emphasizes parameters that affect blockchain in the HSCs and presents a new fuzzy large-scale group decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy large-scale group-DEMATEL) approach to analyze the interdependence of contributing factors for using BT in HSCs. This method consists of two stages: (1) clustering the large-scale group-experts into small subgroups by their characteristics, and (2) identifying the key factors affecting BT in HSCs with a novel fuzzy large-scale group-DEMATEL approach. According to experts, in this study, among the 25 evaluated factors, disintermediation has been identified as the most important one, followed by anonymity and security. A closer look reveals that 13 and 12 factors have been “cause” and “effect” factors, respectively. Our research can be used to promote the effectiveness of using BT in HSCs, so as to promote the proper distribution of relief materials in practical disasters.

Blok Zinciri Teknolojisine Ait Özelliklerin ve Sektörler Arası Kıyaslamanın DEMATEL ve WASPAS ile Analizi

“…Existing literature indicates that MCDM methods have been extensively used to explore the obstacles and requirements associated with implementing blockchain technology. Furthermore, studies conducted by Maden and Alptekin (2020), and Chen et al (2023) investigate the key factors influencing the adoption of blockchain technology. These studies have commonly identified decentralization, anonymity, and security as prominent factors influencing the decision to adopt blockchain technology.…”

A blockchain technology for improving financial flows in humanitarian supply chains: benefits and challenges

“…Transitioning from theoretical frameworks to practical applications, BT exhibits promise in HSCs (Aranda et al, 2019;Baharmand and Comes, 2019;Baharmand et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2023;Coppi, 2020;Dubey et al, 2020;Dubey et al, 2022b;Hunt et al, 2022;Izadi et al, 2023;Khadke and Parkhi, 2020;Khan et al, 2021;L'Hermitte and Nair, 2020;Ozdemir et al, 2021;Patil et al, 2021;Ramadurai and Bhatia, 2019;Rodriguez-Espindola et al, 2020;Sahebi et al, 2020;Zwitter and Boisse-Despiaux, 2018). The BT's applications in HSC operations include tracking relief funding, preventing corruption and implementing smart contracts, all contributing to trust, transparency, traceability, human error risk mitigation and improving efficiency of fund distribution throughout the HSCs (Aranda et al, 2019;Baharmand et al, 2021;Dubey et al, 2020;Gorey, 2016;Hunt et al, 2022;Kenny, 2017;Kewell et al, 2017;Saad et al, 2022;Verhulst, 2018;Zwitter and Boisse-Despiaux, 2018).…”

“…While there is optimism about BT's potential to enhance transparency and reduce transaction costs in HSCs, concerns regarding equity, privacy and trust need addressing (Stathakis, 2019). Scholars emphasize the importance of navigating these ethical implications alongside technological advancements (Baharmand and Comes, 2019;Chen et al, 2023;Coppi and Fast, 2019;Dubey et al, 2020;Dubey et al, 2021aDubey et al, , 2021bDubey et al, 2022aDubey et al, , 2022bHunt et al, 2022;Izadi et al, 2023;Seyedsayamdost and Vanderwal, 2020).…”

“…As a result, there is an urgent need to enhance the traceability and transparency of funds used in disaster assistance networks (Dubey et al, 2020;Mejia et al, 2019). To address these issues, humanitarian players are increasingly demanding that disaster relief supply chains be made more resilient using developing technology (Chen et al, 2019;Chen et al, 2023;Dubey et al, 2019;Izadi et al, 2023;Ko and Verity, 2016). Despite increased efforts to address organizational capability and coordination misalignment concerns, there is minimum research on how to better align IT capacities and coordination among humanitarian players (Dubey et al, 2021a(Dubey et al, , 2021bDubey et al, 2022a;Stieglitz et al, 2022).…”

“…This transformative role of BT in HSC has garnered significant attention over the last five years (Hunt et al, 2022;Lim et al, 2021;Wamba, 2020). Although the use of BT in the humanitarian sector is still in its infancy, donors and government entities are increasingly calling for greater relationships of trust and collaborations among different humanitarian stakeholders to enhance the traceability and transparency of disaster funds and information exchanges flow in HSC (Chen et al, 2023;Dubey et al, 2020;Dubey et al, 2021aDubey et al, , 2021bDubey et al, 2022b;Hunt et al, 2022;Izadi et al, 2023;Negi, 2022). Thus, this study aims to determine how the implementation of BT can play a crucial role in managing financial flows in the HSC setting.…”