Blockchain-enabled supplier collaboration platform for resilient procurement networks

Thesis Abstract

This study investigates how a blockchain-enabled supplier collaboration platform can enhance resilience in procurement networks by improving transparency, traceability, and trust across multi-tier supplier ecosystems. The problem addressed is the persistent fragility of supply networks to disruption, information asymmetry, and opaque supplier practices, which impede rapid decision-making and risk mitigation. The aim is to design, implement, and evaluate a blockchain-based collaboration platform that securely shares procurement data among buyers, suppliers, and logistical partners, thereby enabling real-time risk assessment and coordinated contingency responses. Specific objectives include (1) assessing current barriers to resilience in supplier collaboration, (2) developing a blockchain-enabled platform architecture that integrates smart contracts, verifiable credentials, and multi-party authentication, (3) evaluating the platform’s impact on information transparency, supplier performance visibility, and disruption response times, (4) identifying governance and interoperability requirements across industry-standard procurement processes, and (5) formulating a practical framework for scale-up and governance. Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed-methods research design comprising a qualitative exploratory phase followed by a quantitative evaluation. The population consists of medium-to-large manufacturing firms and their tier-one to tier-three suppliers operating within a coastal region with diversified supplier bases. A purposive sampling approach targets 12 firms and 48 supplier entities to ensure representation of critical procurement categories. Data collection employs (i) semi-structured interviews with procurement managers (n=24) and blockchain platform sponsors (n=8) to elicit perceived barriers, governance needs, and expectations; (ii) document analysis of procurement policies and risk registers; and (iii) a pilot deployment of the platform in two supply chains over a 6-month period. Instrument validity is established through expert panel review and pilot testing, while reliability is ensured via test-retest procedures and inter-rater reliability for interview coding (Cohen’s kappa > 0.70). Data analysis proceeds in parallel for qualitative and quantitative strands. The qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke, with coding conducted by two researchers to establish consensus and achieve saturation. The quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression to examine determinants of perceived platform value, and time-to-disruption-response analysis using survival analysis techniques. A difference-in-differences approach will be employed to compare resilience indicators before and after platform deployment, controlling for firm size, industry, and prior digital maturity. A conceptual model integrating Information Asymmetry Theory, Resource-Based View, and Transaction Cost Economics will guide interpretation of results, with a blockchain-specific extension incorporating trustless coordination and smart contract governance. Key expected findings include (a) improved information transparency across buyers and suppliers, evidenced by reduced information asymmetry (effect size medium to large, p<0.05); (b) enhanced supplier performance visibility and tracking of critical metrics such as on-time delivery and quality, enabled by immutable blockchain records; (c) reduced mean time to detect and respond to disruptions, decreasing from an estimated 7.2 days to 2.1 days in pilot periods; (d) identification of governance mechanisms and interoperability standards necessary for cross-organizational adoption, including standardized tokenized credentials and consent-based data sharing; (e) evidence on the role of smart contracts in automating routine procurement contingencies and triggering alternative supplier engagement. The study contributes to knowledge by providing empirical evidence on blockchain-enabled collaboration as a mechanism for procurement resilience, detailing an integrative platform architecture, governance model, and a practical implementation blueprint for organizations seeking to operationalize digital trust and coordinated risk response in supply networks. It advances theory by empirically testing an extended Information Asymmetry Theory with trustless coordination constructs and by linking blockchain-enabled transparency to resilient procurement performance in a real-world setting. Policy and practice implications include guidance for procurement officers on selecting data to share, configuring smart contracts, and establishing governance agreements that balance transparency with confidentiality. The main conclusion anticipates that blockchain-enabled supplier collaboration platforms can meaningfully enhance resilience in procurement networks by delivering verifiable, real-time information flows and automated contingency mechanisms, provided that governance, interoperability, and data governance considerations are addressed. Recommendations emphasize scalable pilot programs, industry-wide standardization efforts for credentialing and data sharing, and ongoing capability-building initiatives to integrate such platforms with existing enterprise resource planning and supplier relationship management systems.