Blockchain-Based Security Factors on Sustainable Supply Chain Management in UK Manufacturing Firms: A Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsSummary/Contribution: This research examines how blockchain security concerns affect UK manufacturing enterprises' sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). SSCM promotion requires privacy, network, secrecy, and management elements, according to research. The study also found that managerial (trust management) and supplier privacy aspects matter most. The research proves that the resource-based view (RBV) theory and the Technology-Organizational-Environmental (TOE) framework are nonlinear. The study informs practitioners and advances blockchain and sustainable supply chain management literature.
Suggestions/Comments:
- Provide more details on the methodology used, such as the specific steps taken in the hybrid PLS-ANN approach, to enhance the transparency and replicability of the analysis.
- Include a more comprehensive discussion of the limitations of the study, such as the potential biases in the sample of United Kingdom manufacturing firms and the generalizability of the findings to other industries or countries.
- Consider incorporating a comparative analysis of the impact of blockchain security factors on SSCM in different sectors or regions to provide a more nuanced understanding of the relationship.
- Expand the discussion on the practical implications of the research findings, including specific recommendations for United Kingdom manufacturing firms to enhance their SSCM practices through the implementation of blockchain security measures.
- Provide a more thorough review of the existing literature on the TOE framework and its application in the context of sustainable supply chain management and blockchain technology to strengthen the theoretical foundation of the study.
- Provide a clear definition and operationalization of the blockchain security factors and their impact on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) to enhance the understanding of the constructs being studied.
- Conduct a more extensive literature review on the relationship between blockchain technology and SSCM, including studies that have explored the impact of blockchain security factors on sustainability outcomes in other industries or countries.
- Consider incorporating qualitative research methods, such as interviews or case studies, to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which blockchain security factors influence SSCM practices.
- Explore the potential moderating effects of contextual factors, such as firm size or industry characteristics, on the relationship between blockchain security factors and SSCM to provide a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics at play.
- Discuss the implications of the research findings for policymakers and regulatory bodies, highlighting the need for supportive frameworks and guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of blockchain technology in sustainable supply chain management.
- Formal methods can be used to verify the correctness of smart contracts and blockchain codes, which can help to prevent costly errors and security breaches. Therefore, it is important to discuss the use of formal methods in your paper. For this purpose, the authors may include the following interesting references (and others):
a. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9970534
b. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8328737
Can be improved.
Author Response
Reviewer#1, Comment # 1: Provide more details on the methodology used, such as the specific steps taken in the hybrid PLS-ANN approach, to enhance the transparency and replicability of the analysis.
Author response: Thanks for your concern.
Author action: Certainly, I appreciate your request for more details on the methodology. In the hybrid PLS-ANN approach, we first employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships between the variables based on the theoretical framework. Subsequently, we utilized Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis to capture complex, non-linear patterns within the data that might not be fully captured by traditional linear methods like PLS-SEM. This hybrid approach allowed us to leverage the strengths of both techniques, enhancing the overall robustness and accuracy of our analysis. The detailed steps involved in each stage of the hybrid methodology have been incorporated into the revised manuscript to ensure transparency and facilitate replicability. Please refer to the pg#11, line #336-343 for more details.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 2: Include a more comprehensive discussion of the limitations of the study, such as the potential biases in the sample of United Kingdom manufacturing firms and the generalizability of the findings to other industries or countries.
Author response: Thanks for highlighting the issues and concerns.
Author action: The limitations of the study have been given careful consideration, and we have expanded the discussion to encompass potential biases in the sample of United Kingdom manufacturing firms. Additionally, we have provided a more thorough exploration of the generalizability of our findings to other industries or countries, acknowledging the need for caution in extrapolating results beyond the specific context of the studied manufacturing firms in the United Kingdom. Please refer to the pg#14, lines#432-435.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 3: Consider incorporating a comparative analysis of the impact of blockchain security factors on SSCM in different sectors or regions to provide a more nuanced understanding of the relationship.
Author response: Thanks for highlighting the issues and concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your insightful suggestion. We have taken your feedback into account and enhanced the study by incorporating a comparative analysis of the impact of blockchain security factors on Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) across different sectors or regions. Please refer to Table 1 on Pg#3-5, lines # 148. The Table highlighted that BCT and SSCM have been implemented in different geographical locations and various sectors.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 4: Expand the discussion on the practical implications of the research findings, including specific recommendations for United Kingdom manufacturing firms to enhance their SSCM practices through the implementation of blockchain security measures.
Author response: Thanks for your concern.
Author action: Thank you for your valuable input. We have expanded the discussion on the practical implications of our research findings, providing more detailed insights and specific recommendations tailored to United Kingdom manufacturing firms. Please refer to the Pg#13-14, lines# 404-412.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 5: Provide a more thorough review of the existing literature on the TOE framework and its application in the context of sustainable supply chain management and blockchain technology to strengthen the theoretical foundation of the study.
Author response: Thanks for your suggestions.
Author action: Thank you for your insightful comment. We have conducted a more thorough review of the existing literature on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework as well other theoretical framework, specifically in the context of sustainable supply chain management and the application of blockchain technology. For detail, please refer to Table 1, Pg#148.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 6: Provide a clear definition and operationalization of the blockchain security factors and their impact on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) to enhance the understanding of the constructs being studied.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Certainly, your feedback has been duly noted. We have provided a clear definition and operationalization of the blockchain security factors within the context of our study. This clarification aims to enhance the understanding of the constructs under investigation and their impact on Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM).
Reviewer#1, Comment # 7: Conduct a more extensive literature review on the relationship between blockchain technology and SSCM, including studies that have explored the impact of blockchain security factors on sustainability outcomes in other industries or countries.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Certainly, your feedback has been taken into consideration. We have conducted a more extensive literature review, encompassing studies that delve into the relationship between blockchain technology and Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). Additionally, we have included research from various industries and countries that explore the impact of blockchain security factors on sustainability outcomes. This expanded literature review aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the broader landscape and deepen the insights into the relationship between blockchain technology and SSCM. For detail, please refer to Table 1, Pg#148.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 8: Consider incorporating qualitative research methods, such as interviews or case studies, to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which blockchain security factors influence SSCM practices.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Certainly, your suggestion for incorporating qualitative research methods, such as interviews or case studies, to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms influencing Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices is appreciated. However, our current research is primarily based on a questionnaire survey. We acknowledge the potential benefits of qualitative methods in providing a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms involved. We have duly highlighted this as a valuable suggestion in the research limitations section, acknowledging it as an avenue for future research to explore and enrich the insights into the intricate relationships between blockchain security factors and SSCM practices. Please refer to Pg#14, line# 435-437.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 9: Explore the potential moderating effects of contextual factors, such as firm size or industry characteristics, on the relationship between blockchain security factors and SSCM to provide a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics at play.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Certainly, your suggestion regarding exploring potential moderating effects of contextual factors is appreciated. In our study, we performed T-tests and ANOVA tests to analyze significant differences among demographic variables, including firm size and industry characteristics. The statistical outcomes consistently indicated no significant differences, suggesting that these control factors do not impact the theoretical framework under consideration.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 10: Discuss the implications of the research findings for policymakers and regulatory bodies, highlighting the need for supportive frameworks and guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of blockchain technology in sustainable supply chain management.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Certainly, your suggestion regarding the implications of our research findings for policymakers and regulatory bodies has been duly considered. We have incorporated a discussion on the policy implications, emphasizing the importance of supportive frameworks and guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of blockchain technology in Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). This addition aims to underscore the significance of informed policymaking in facilitating and optimizing the integration of blockchain in enhancing supply chain sustainability. Please refer to the Pg#14, lines#417-420.
Reviewer#1, Comment # 11: Formal methods can be used to verify the correctness of smart contracts and blockchain codes, which can help to prevent costly errors and security breaches. Therefore, it is important to discuss the use of formal methods in your paper. For this purpose, the authors may include the following interesting references (and others):
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9970534
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8328737
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: The suggested references articles have been incorporated in the revised manuscript. Please refer to Pg#14, lines#442-444, and Pg#16, lines#536-537.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.doc
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Reviewer#2, Comment # 1: The authors provide a consistent narrative and justification in the abstract. Certainly, the global supply chains are an important topic and can be secured by blockchain. I really value how the introduction unfolds and its effective structure.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your positive feedback. We are pleased to note that our efforts in providing a consistent narrative and justification in the abstract, as well as structuring the introduction effectively, have met your expectations. Please refer to Pg#1 lines#11-12.
Reviewer#2, Comment # 2: I think the second paragraph is informative but around line 52 there should be a description of the blockchain on Industry 4.0 and in addition it should explain the importance of blockchain in supply chains in the context of Industry 4.0. For example, a report on future market of blockchain in supply chains can be extremely useful as well as examples like Walmart and others that adopted blockchain in supply chains
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your valuable input. We have incorporated additional information in the second paragraph on Pg#2, lines#58-60.
Reviewer#2, Comment # 3: From line 55-6 you can start another more theoretical paragraph. Lines 72 it is useful to mention some literature on adoption of blockchain and argue that your contribution is unique, that is a key point.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your guidance. We have implemented your suggestion and added more research on the adoption of BCT. Please refer to Table 1, on Pg#3, line#148.
Reviewer#2, Comment # 4: I feel that in some parts it needs much more analysis. For example, in lines 108-116, especially concerning Paul et al. (2021) you should say more, what effects, how strong are these effects etc. You should develop that into a more elaborative critical review, and this would help you justify why your paper contributes. Similar in line’s 129, 131 etc.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your insightful feedback. We acknowledge your suggestion for a more in-depth analysis, particularly concerning Paul et al. (2021). Please refer to Pg#3, lines#119-122.
Reviewer#2, Comment # 5: the derivation of the models needs more studies. They should not only focus on supply chain, there are many studies on broader Blockchain applications as the NFT and crypto that can be used in your context enrich your study and provide methodological rigor.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your thoughtful input. We have broadened the scope of our literature review to encompass a more diverse range of BCT. Please refer to Table 1, Pg#3, line#148.
Reviewer#2, Comment # 6: I would like to see a little bit more justification on PLS and ANN on lines 244-5, why did you choose those, mention other studies, what are their advantages. I think they are great, but you should justify it a little bit more.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Thank you for your valuable feedback. We have expanded the justification for choosing Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Our revised discussion now includes references to other relevant studies and elaborates on the advantages of these methods, providing a more thorough justification for their selection in our research. Please refer to Pg#11, lines#323-326.
Reviewer#2, Comment # 7: Line 353 – which past studies, what is the justification, expand.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: The comments have been addressed on Pg#13, lines#363-366.
Author Response File: Author Response.doc
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript concerns security issues in blockchain-based sustainable supply chain management. We have the following comments. The topic is interesting because security issues are rarely considered when blockchain technology is employed in sustainable supply chain management. However, we have comments as follows:
- Why are security issues so even more crucial for sustainable supply chain management?
- The authors are expected to explain more on the security issues in sustainable supply chain management besides presenting the approaching to finding the security issues.
- Is the data in other countries available?
- Some important related work is missing, including "Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management", "Data Management in Supply Chain using Blockchain: Challenges and a Case Study", "Blockchain technology for sustainable supply chain management: A systematic literature review and a classification framework", and "High-efficiency Blockchain-based Supply Chain Traceability".
Comments on the Quality of English Language
NA
Author Response
Reviewer#3, Comment # 1: Why are security issues so even more crucial for sustainable supply chain management? The authors are expected to explain more on the security issues in sustainable supply chain management besides presenting the approaching to finding the security issues.
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: Security issues are particularly crucial for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) because they directly impact the integrity, confidentiality, and transparency of the supply chain processes. Ensuring the security of information, transactions, and data within the supply chain is imperative for building trust among stakeholders, mitigating risks, and promoting sustainable practices. Security breaches can disrupt operations, compromise ethical standards, and erode the sustainability efforts within the supply chain. Hence, addressing security issues is fundamental to fostering a resilient and sustainable supply chain ecosystem.
Reviewer#3, Comment # 2: Is the data in other countries available?
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: While the specific data used in this research pertains to United Kingdom manufacturing firms, similar types of research have been conducted in various geographic locations to explore the impact of blockchain technology on sustainable supply chain management. Please refer to Table-1 Pg#3, lines#148.
Reviewer#3, Comment # 4: Some important related work is missing, including "Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management", "Data Management in Supply Chain using Blockchain: Challenges and a Case Study", "Blockchain technology for sustainable supply chain management: A systematic literature review and a classification framework", and "High-efficiency Blockchain-based Supply Chain Traceability".
Author response: Thanks for your concerns.
Author action: The suggested studies have been incorporated in the revised manuscript on Pg#18, line#620-622, Pg# 17, lines#577-578 & 593-594.
Author Response File: Author Response.doc
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAll my comments and suggestions were considered by authors. Good luck.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageCan be improved.
