Applications of blockchain in government education sector: a comprehensive review and future research potentials

Purpose With the time and increase in usage of information technology (IT), blockchain technology is gaining immense attention from researchers, academicians, and practitioners because of its distinctive features such as transference, security and data reliability. The purpose of this study is to endow with a systematic review of literature on blockchain in context to the government education sector in terms of its usage, benefits, obstacles and practical implementation in future areas in education. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a bibliometric visualization tool to classify data in yearly publications, highly cited journals, prominent authors, leading publications in countries and institutions and highly cited papers – the data was extracted from the SCOPUS database by using relevant keywords. Thus, the following research questions were developed: How has blockchain technology been used in the government educational sector? What are the benefits examined in the field of education? What were the problems/obstacles faced using the technology in a government education structure? Findings The findings identify and provide a comprehensive review of the technique regarding the present research stream in terms of highest publication, author, journal, subject-wise and relevance of the technology in government education structure. Thus, the future research potential of the technology in the education sector is much more as it is in the initiation stage. A lot of opportunities and benefits need to be extracted at large. Research limitations/implications The present findings of the study provide a base work for government education institutions, policy developers and researchers to investigate other areas where the technology can be implemented. Finally, more technology applications will develop strategies for proper data management and cost-effective decisions. Originality/value This study explains the relevance of technology in education through bibliometric visualization. The study adopted the review and significance of blockchain technology in the government education sector by identifying its benefits, current scenario, application and future research potential areas.

An integrated SWOT-AHP-fuzzy TOPSIS approach for maturity management following the COVID-19 outbreak: lessons learned from fast fashion

Purpose Focussing on issues that have impacted textiles, clothing and fast fashion following the COVID-19 outbreak, this study aims to identify agility factors pertinent to retail maturity management, mainly on resilience. These factors were then assessed based on priority. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to identify the main factors. This analysis was integrated with the analytic hierarchy process to rank the internal and external factors. Then, the authors used fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution to evaluate the significant strategies from the SWOT analysis based on adaptability and flexibility. Thus, the authors produced a prioritised list of relevant factors and guidelines useful in practical settings. Findings The authors identified and ranked 14 agility and resilience SWOT factors for maturity management and proposed and prioritised six relevant strategies. These highlighted changes and adaptations must be undertaken by various actors, ranging from the supply/manufacturing side to global retail locations. Research limitations/implications The sampling study of experts is limited, and the application is focussed on one area. Future research might investigate other fields, for retail and industry. Practical implications The output of this study enables a better understanding of the internal and external factors of maturity management for fast-fashion retailers. Hence, it will further help them go through resilience and agility challenges following the pandemic. Originality/value This study significantly contributes to the literature because the results can guide retailers in developing effective decision-making systems for mature business operations following the pandemic outbreak. Here, the authors incorporate internal, external, agility and resilience aspects into one decision-making support system while enhancing existing knowledge on fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making applications. Further, this study discusses critical issues that have affected several aspects of the fashion and textile industry and will likely persist for some time.

Selection of strategy for reverse logistics implementation

Purpose Reverse logistics has attracted many industries due to product recalls, enormous waste generation, competitive reasons, vast opportunity in the waste management market, and to get the maximum value out of waste recovery. Selection of the right implementation strategy is vital for reverse logistics to function efficiently. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the criteria for selecting reverse logistics strategy and help to choose the preferred strategy for its implementation. Design/methodology/approach Three reverse logistics implementation strategies, namely, in-house, joint venture and outsourcing, are proposed. A novel hybrid fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (F-AHP) and fuzzy measurement of alternatives and ranking according to COmpromise Solution (F-MARCOS) based framework is developed to fulfil the research objective. A survey is performed on Indian manufacturing industry to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework. Findings The result shows that government policy and regulations, reverse logistics risks and reduced emission have prime importance for a manufacturing industry which needs to implement reverse logistics into its supply chain. Outsourcing is the preferred reverse logistics strategy followed by joint venture and in-house that a manufacturing firm in India can implement. Research limitations/implications The research results are based on the responses of the survey received. This research considers various industry sectors to test the applicability of the framework. However, for actual implementation, this survey must first be limited to a particular industry as the results will apply to that industrial sector only. Practical implications This developed framework simplifies the procedure of selecting the strategy when the industry needs to implement reverse logistics. For industries working with a smaller set of criteria, this framework is a powerful and dynamic approach for reducing and choosing the most pertinent one that helps accomplish their objectives of reverse logistics implementation strategy selection. Originality/value Based on the literature and current applicability of reverse logistics, this research proposes three models to implement reverse logistics in Indian industries. A novel hybrid F-AHP and F-MARCOS based framework is developed to handle the selection of suitable reverse logistics strategy.

Designing a drone assisted sample collection and testing system during epidemic outbreaks

Purpose A major component in managing pandemic outbreaks involves testing the suspected individuals and isolating them to avoid transmission in the community. This requires setting up testing centres for diagnosis of the infected individuals, which usually involves movement of either patient from their residence to the testing centre or personnel visiting the patient, thus aggregating the risk of transmission to localities and testing centres. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and minimize such movements by developing a drone assisted sample collection and diagnostic system. Design/methodology/approach Effective control of an epidemic outbreak calls for a rapid response and involves testing suspected individuals and isolating them to avoid transmission in the community. This paper presents the problem in a two-phase manner by locating sample collection centres while assigning neighbourhoods to these collection centres and thereafter, assigning collection centres to nearest testing centres. To solve the mathematical model, this study develops a mixed-integer linear programming model and propose an integrated genetic algorithm with a local search-based approach (GA-LS) to solve the problem. Findings Proposed approach is demonstrated as a case problem in an Indian urban city named Kolkata. Computational results show that the integrated GA-LS approach is capable of producing good quality solutions within a short span of time, which aids to the practicality in the circumstance of a pandemic. Social implications The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the large-scale outbreak of a transmissible disease may require a restriction of movement to take control of the exponential transmission. This paper proposes a system for the location of clinical sample collection centres in such a way that drones can be used for the transportation of samples from the neighbourhood to the testing centres. Originality/value Epidemic outbreaks have been a reason behind a major number of deaths across the world. The present study addresses the critical issue of identifying locations of temporary sample collection centres for drone assisted testing in major cities, which is by its nature unique and has not been considered by any other previous literature. The findings of this study will be of particular interest to the policy-makers to build a more robust epidemic resistance.

Disruptions in sourcing and distribution practices of supply chains due to COVID-19 pandemic: a sustainability paradigm

Purpose The present research paper is an attempt to study how COVID-19 can affect the global sourcing practices of various supply chain intermediaries across the demand chain. This study aims to explore and is an attempt to understand the overall impact of COVID-19 on the sustainable operations of the firm such as sourcing, procurement, economic performance, social responsibility, consumption and distributions. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative technique using data collected from 708 respondents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) has been applied to test the proposed model and hypothesis. Findings The findings of the study suggest that sourcing practices, distribution and sustainability considerations of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers are affected by COVID-19 to a great extent but the pandemic has also led to making supply chain intermediaries understand the changing dynamics of the business scenario which can help them in their own strategic and business evolution. Research limitations/implications The current disruptions throughout global delivery chains caused by COVID-19 affect badly, the already poor-performing supply chains. Hence, the present study provides fresh insight on how organizations can limit the ill effects of COVID-19 by safeguarding some of their key sustainable operations in a post-pandemic business scenario. Originality/value The present study takes into consideration how core supply functions such as sourcing, distribution and manufacturing and various sustainable operations are disrupted by pandemic and its after-effects. This knowledge base can help business organizations to mitigate such problems/disruptions in the future.

Categorizing transaction costs outcomes under uncertainty: a blockchain perspective for government organizations

Purpose In response, the purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical frameworks about the organizational uncertainty behind what and when to adopt blockchain technology and their implications on transaction costs. The immature nature and the absence of standards in blockchain technology lead to uncertainty in government organizations concerning the adoption (“what to adopt”) and the identification of the right time (“when to start”). Design/methodology/approach Using transaction cost theory and path dependency theory, this paper proposes two frameworks: to assess transaction cost risks and opportunities costs; and to depict four different types of transaction costs outcomes regarding blockchain adoption. Findings This paper identifies various theoretical concepts that influence blockchain adoption and combine the two critical constructs of “bounded rationality” and the “lock-in effect” to categorize the multiple transaction costs outcomes for blockchain adoption. Research limitations/implications Although existing research in blockchain highlights mainly the potential benefits of blockchain applications, only a little attention has been given to frameworks that categorize potential transaction costs outcomes under uncertainty, in particular from organizational theorists. Originality/value Both frameworks advance the understanding of the decision-making behind blockchain adoption and synthesize the current literature to offer conceptual clarity regarding the varied implications and outcomes linked to the uncertainty regarding transactions costs stemming from blockchain technology.

IIoT implementation challenges: analysis and mitigation by blockchain

Purpose The purpose of this methodology is to categorise the challenges into cause and effect group. The modern scenario of customization, personalization and multi-restrictive working because of pandemics has affected the operations of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In the new normal, the digitalization of manufacturing SMEs can be the path breaker. Modern digitalization includes a mix of technologies such as the industrial internet of things (IIoT), the internet of things, cyber-physical system and big data analytics. This digitalization can help in achieving new design changes, efficient production scheduling, smart manufacturing and unrestricted on-time delivery of quality products. This research paper aims to recognize and analyze the challenges faced while implementing IIoT technologies in manufacturing SMEs and tries to find the possibility of mitigating challenges by blockchain technology. Design/methodology/approach There were ten challenges of IIoT implementation identified from the literature review and experts’ opinions. To collect information from Indian manufacturing SMEs, a survey tool was formed in the form of a questionnaire. On the fundament of responses received from industrial experts, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique has been used for categorizing these challenges into cause and effect groups. Further, the authors tried to mitigate observed challenges with the help of blockchain technology. Findings With the implementation of IIoT technologies, the manufacturing processes become conciliatory, effective and traceable in real time. Observation of the current study states that the top effect group challenges such as the security of data and reliability of technologies can be mitigated by enabling blockchain technologies. The authors conclude that blockchain-enabled IIoT technologies will be highly beneficial for the Indian SMEs strategically and practically in the current scenario. Research limitations/implications Methodology of DEMATEL focuses on responses received from experts. The broader approach of survey from manufacturing organizations is compromised due to small sample size in this methodology. Experts approached for survey were from manufacturing SMEs of Delhi National Capital Region only. Broader survey-based techniques may be applied covering different sectors of SMEs in future work. Practical implications Technologies such as blockchain can facilitate advanced security in the application of IIoT and other such practices. While dealing with significant issues and challenges of new technologies, blockchain gives an edge of balance in the current scenario. Its properties of fixity, temper evident and circumvent fraud make this technology ideal for the digitalization of the manufacturing systems in SMEs. Originality/value Digitalization of manufacturing facilities is the need of the hour. Pandemic challenges have highlighted the urgency of it. This research will motivate and guide the manufacturing SMEs in planning strategies and long-term policies in implementing modern technologies and coping up with the pandemic challenges.

Labour 4.0: developing competences for smart production

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine how companies develop and acquire competences to capture the benefits of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. The authors argue that this is a fundamental and often overlooked prerequisite for industrial transformation. Design/methodology/approach The authors conduct a process study of 33 small- and medium-sized companies engaged in the transformation of a manufacturing industry from the different perspectives of manufacturers or manufacturing solution providers. Findings Key findings indicate a strong link between the specific competence development approach, the specific intricacies of the application domain and the process outcomes. On this basis, a competence development framework is proposed. Research limitations/implications The conclusions are drawn from a Danish population of companies in the manufacturing industry and are based on particular contingencies, such as low volume/high mix, high skill, low tech and high cost. However, the findings are believed to be applicable across different sets of contingencies where the need to combine legacy and emerging technologies is present, and where the human factor is central to leveraging technology beyond predefined supplier specifications. Practical implications In a time of extraordinary investments in the manufacturing of technologies in support of digital transformation, the development of strategic and operational competences to support these investments is lagging behind. This paper develops a conceptual outset for closing this gap. Originality/value The research is based on the fundamental argument that to efficiently apply new technology, a strategic approach to the acquisition of new knowledge and skills is required. The empirical research demonstrates that new skills and knowledge are often assumed to follow automatically from the use of new technologies. However, we demonstrate that this perspective in fact limits the ability to capture the potential benefits ascribed to I4.0 technologies. The authors propose that the competence strategy needs to be expansive and cover not only the technological competences but also the organizational- and individual-level competences. These results add to our understanding of how the digital transformation of manufacturing companies unfolds.

Latent classes of accounting outsourcing firms

Purpose Outsourcing of accounting increasingly attracts research interest, but research concerning the impact of the benefits of outsourcing on firm capabilities and performance across firms remains limited. This paper aims to reveal the unobservable latent classes of firms that outsource their accounting functions by testing a research model concerning the topic. Design/methodology/approach The authors build on accounting outsourcing research and adapt a research model from the literature on business services outsourcing. The authors analyze the data from 261 small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe using finite mixture structural equation modeling (FMSEM) and additional methods. Findings The authors reveal three latent classes with different research models. Thriving outsourcers (N = 103) have a positive attitude toward accounting outsourcing and associate competitive capabilities with mediating the relationship from outsourcing benefits to firm performance. Annoyed outsourcers (N = 143) are dissatisfied with their accounting service provider and only associate outsourcing benefits with competitive capabilities. Convenient outsourcers (N = 15) feel comfortable with their current accounting service provider and associate outsourcing benefits with neither capabilities nor with firm performance. Research limitations/implications The study initiates the discussion about the unobservable heterogeneity among accounting outsourcers. The study introduces the use of the FMSEM method in accounting outsourcing research. Practical implications The study offers novel insights concerning accounting outsourcers and proposes original explanations for their outsourcing decisions that would help both the outsourcers and accounting service providers. Originality/value The study might be the first to categorize accounting outsourcers using FMSEM.