Applying system dynamics for a blockchain-based sustainable business model

Purpose This study examines the assimilation of blockchain technology (BT) for sustainable business models (SBMs), acknowledging that a lack of comprehensive guidance and evidence-based best practices often hampers technological integrations within systems. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a systems thinking paradigm, utilizing a system dynamics (SD) approach to understand the BT assimilation within SBMs. This study employed a case study of a coffee commodity entity that advanced sustainability values through the application of BT. The modeling process integrated both deductive and inductive reasoning to construct a rigorous and context-sensitive system model. Findings Applying the dynamic sustainable framework, this study effectively reconstructs the assimilation of BT within SBM into a model that produces specific behavior. The model's behavior underscores the importance of accounting for both the network's proficiency in BT and the diffusion of BT throughout the network. This study provides explicit directions through configurable parameters, enabling the calibration or improvement of system performance. Research limitations/implications This study extends the theoretical understanding by integrating related theories within a modeling framework and offering actionable insights for practitioners. Originality/value This article offers a simulation-based perspective to examine the social process of BT integration within a sustainable system. Through an empirical investigation, this study provides strategic insights and clearer pathways for the effective integration of BT into SBM.