The Hidden Farmer Voices in Digitalizing Supply Chains for Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Digital supply chain technologies can have unintended consequences for smallholder farmers in countries of origin. Based on a multi-sited ethnography along the cocoa supply chain, this study includes a seven-week field stay in Ghana and 60 interviews to explore the perspectives of origin actors (OAs). The findings, anchored in adaptive structuration theory, reveal two contrasting outcomes: backfire and thrive. Backfire occurs when digital technologies exacerbate OAs' exposure to environmental uncertainty, draining their natural, financial, and time resources. Conversely, technology implementations thrive when integrated with local culture and designed to empower OAs.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings
Volume2025
Issue number1
ISSN0065-0668
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025
Event85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2025 - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 25 Jul 202529 Jul 2025

Conference

Conference85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2025
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period25/07/202529/07/2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025, Academy of Management. All rights reserved.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Hidden Farmer Voices in Digitalizing Supply Chains for Sustainability'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this