Navigating blockchain assimilation in supply chain organisations: an integrated institutional and innovation assimilation perspective

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to examine how institutional pressures shape the adoption, assimilation and integration of blockchain technologies in supply chain organisations. By combining Gallivan’s innovation assimilation model with institutional theory, the paper explains why blockchain projects frequently stall or regress. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with blockchain vendors, adopters and ecosystem actors are triangulated with a systematic literature review to map institutional influences across assimilation stages. Findings The analysis identifies four institutional mechanisms; network legitimacy, coordinated uncertainty reduction, institutional paradoxes and cross-organisational cognitive reframing which collectively explain non-linear and uneven assimilation trajectories. Regulative, normative and cognitive pressures function as both enablers and constraints at different stages, particularly during routinisation and infusion. Practical implications The findings provide managers and policymakers with guidance on reducing institutional friction, aligning incentives across supply chain tiers and supporting stable governance and assurance structures required for sustained blockchain integration. Originality/value The study advances supply chain management research by showing how multi-tier governance, power asymmetries and certification regimes shape blockchain assimilation. It offers a multi-level explanation for why blockchain rarely progresses beyond early pilots into embedded, long term practice.