Reconfiguring resource orchestration via social capital: a processual view of blockchain in supply chains

Abstract

Purpose This study examines how social capital's cognitive and relational dimensions enable effective resource orchestration for blockchain implementation in global supply chains. It reconceptualizes blockchain implementation as a dynamic, cyclical process shaped by evolving interorganizational trust and collaboration. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an abductive, multi-case qualitative methodology, this study examines data collected from a UK-based food manufacturer and nine of its suppliers from developing economies. Primary data, along with secondary documents, is analyzed using social capital theory as the primary lens and resource orchestration theory as a secondary lens. Findings Findings reveal that while structural capital is foundational, advanced cognitive and relational capital are vital for successful blockchain implementation. Features of blockchain, like immutability and automated verification, enable trust to shift from interpersonal to system-based. Challenging linear models, the study shows a recursive loop where blockchain reinforces social capital, enabling ongoing collaboration and capability building. Practical implications Managers should approach blockchain not merely as a technological upgrade but as a relational transformation. Successful implementation requires phased trust-building, capability alignment and tailored orchestration strategies suited to the digital maturity of supply chain partners. Originality/value This research contributes a novel integrative framework linking social capital and resource orchestration in a digitally mediated context, a perspective largely overlooked in the existing literature. It challenges deterministic blockchain implementation models by introducing a co-evolutionary perspective grounded in trust dynamics.