Nishant Agrawal

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to establish connections between blockchain (BC) technologies, supply chain finance (SCF) and the circular economy (CE) to enhance sustainable operations. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted, identifying 50 primary studies from reputed journals. The study synthesizes existing literature to explore the interplay between BC technologies, SCF and CE, leading to the development of three propositions and a comprehensive framework. Findings: The findings highlight gaps in the existing literature at the intersection of BC and SCF, aligning with the “Regenerate, Share, Optimize, Loop, Virtualize, and Exchange” (ReSOLVE) framework to promote CE practices. Additionally, the study clarifies the literature based on SCF development approaches and underlying theories. Research limitations/implications: This study lays the groundwork for future research to empirically validate the proposed framework and assess its applicability in various industrial contexts. However, the findings are limited to the studies included in the systematic review. Practical implications: The proposed Blockchain-Supply Chain Finance-Circular Economy (BSFCE) framework offers practical insights for integrating BC and SCF to promote CE practices, supporting sustainable supply chain operations. Developed framework can be referred to develop sustainability by facilitating the adoption of CE practices through innovative financial and technological solutions. Originality/value: This study introduces a distinctive BSFCE framework, which integrates BC and SCF within the context of CE. It is the first research to systematically analyze studies on this novel topic, leveraging the resource-based view and network theory to explore BC implementation in SCF and CE.

Purpose: With the rise in population and food consumption, the concerns for food safety have intensified, posing significant risks to public health and increasing the demand for pharmaceuticals. This has led to the growth of online pharmacies as a solution for better healthcare accessibility. Although such online pharmacies are supported by advancements in digital health technologies, a number of challenges inversely affect their widespread adoption, particularly about food security, pharmaceutical quality and societal well-being. The present study aims to bridge this critical gap by identifying key barriers, analyzing their interdependencies and assessing their impact on healthcare access. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs an integrated methodological framework combining Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to analyze barriers to online pharmacy adoption systematically. ISM is used to identify and structure key barriers, creating a hierarchical framework that delineates their influence and dependence. DEMATEL further elucidates causal relationships among these barriers, quantifying interdependencies and evaluating their implications for food security and societal well-being. Findings: The analysis identifies “lack of inspection and regulation” and “lack of trust” as primary barriers. ISM reveals a hierarchical structure, while DEMATEL highlights eight causal barriers, including insufficient information, interstate sale challenges, delayed delivery and inaccurate medication, among others. Practical implications: The study will be helpful in preparing a strategic framework for policymakers, healthcare professionals and e-retailers to enhance food safety, quality assurance and health education. The comprehensive approach also enables decision-makers to develop empirically driven strategic interventions. Originality/value: This study contributes to the theoretical framework of food quality and supports the development of prerequisite programs for promoting healthy lifestyles.

Amid the bustling chaos of students queuing up to place their orders on the brisk afternoon of January 20, 2019, Rajan Sharma found himself stationed behind the counter of Creative Foods. Nestled in a prime location within the Chandigarh University campus, his shop was the focal point for hungry students seeking a quick bite between classes. The air hummed with anticipation as the lunchtime rush hit its peak, with students eagerly perusing the menu for their favorite delicacies. However, the window between 12 and 2 PM was pivotal; it marked the break hour when students flooded the cafe, clamoring to place their orders. Yet, amid the flurry of activity, the lengthy queues sometimes drove them to seek sustenance elsewhere, leaving Sharma pondering the fate of his business. Chandigarh University hosted over 100 food joints on campus alone, with an additional 70–80 scattered just beyond its borders, posing formidable competition to Creative Foods. As an impassioned entrepreneur, Sharma was constantly preoccupied with the growth and sustainability of his venture. The burgeoning preference among students for fast-food establishments, renowned for their swift service, only intensified the pressure on Creative Foods. This dilemma begged the question: what measures could he take to retain his loyal clientele? Could improving workforce satisfaction drive customer retention?

Purpose: The study examined a wide range of proactive supply chain practices to demonstrate a cross-linkage among them and to understand their effects on both practitioners of previous decision-making models, frameworks, strategies and policies. Here, six supply chain practices are empirically evaluated based on 28 constructs to investigate a comprehensive model and confirm the connections for achieving performance and competence. The study presents a conceptual model and examines the influence of many crucial factors, i.e. supply chain collaboration, knowledge, information sharing, green human resources (GHR) management and lean-green (LG) practices on supply chain performance. Design/methodology/approach: Structural equation modeling (SEM) examines the conceptual model and allied relationship. A sample of 175 respondents' data was collected to test the hypothesized relations. A resource based view (RBV) was adopted, and the questionnaires-based survey was conducted on the Indian supply chain professionals to explore the effect of LG and green human resource management (GHRM) practices on supply chain performance. Findings: The study presented five constructs for supply chain capabilities (SCCA), five constructs for supply chain collaboration and integration (SCIN), four constructs for supply chain knowledge and information sharing (SCKI), five constructs for GHR, five constructs for LG practices (LGPR) and four constructs for lean-green SCM (LG-SCM) firm performance to be utilized for validation by the specific industry, company size and operational boundaries for attaining sustainability. The outcome emphasizes that SCCA positively influence GHRM, LG practices and LG supply chain firm performance. However, LG practices do not influence LG-SCM firm performance, particularly in India. Originality/value: The study exploited multiple practices in a conceptual model to provide a widespread understanding of decision-making to assist in developing a holistic approach based on different practices for attaining organizational sustainability. The study stimulates the cross-pollination of ideas between many supply chain practices to better understand SCCA, SCIN, SCKI, GHRM and LG-SCM under a single roof for retaining organization performance.

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020–2021 caused unprecedented disruptions to global supply networks. Companies worldwide faced significant challenges as they dealt with the unexpected surge in demand for specific goods and services. This study delves into the importance of supply chain coordination (SCCO), supply chain resilience (SCRE), and supply chain robustness (SCRB), considering supply chain flexibility (SCFL) and Internet of Things and Big Data Analytics (IoT-BDA) integration. We explore how SCFL influences SCCO, SCRE, and SCRB, enhancing supply chain performance (SCFP). Using a cross sectional approach, we collected survey-based responses to ensure comprehensive representation from the supply chain domain. A total of 217 complete responses were collected and analyzed using AMOS 20. The findings suggest that SCCO, SCRE, and SCRB act as mediators between SCFL and IoT-BDA. However, statistical significance between SCCO and SCRB with SCRE was not established. The study emphasizes the robust predictive nature of SCFL, highlighting its pivotal role in fostering SCCO, SCRE, and SCBR through empirical evidence. Furthermore, it emphasizes the influence of SCFL on enhancing SCFP, particularly in the post-pandemic era.