Examining the impact of blockchain-enabled value chain governance on sustainability challenges: evidence from plantation commodities

Purpose This study examines variations in blockchain-enabled value chain governance across different contextual conditions and develops a typology to explain these variations in sustainability-oriented plantation value chains. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a multiple case study design focusing on buyer-driven plantation commodities in Indonesia, namely coffee, palm oil, cacao and rubber. The data were collected through document analyses, in-depth interviews and field observations to ensure the robustness and validity of the findings. Findings Blockchain-enabled governance varies across value chains depending on the interactions between system complexity and governance intensity, yielding four distinct governance configurations. The typology shows that blockchains function not only as a traceability tool but also as a context-dependent governance infrastructure that supports different combinations of coordination, control and verification. Research limitations/implications This study examined four Indonesian plantation commodity cases, which supports analytical rather than statistical generalizations. The findings reveal that governance outcomes depend on the alignment between the value chain structure and governance requirements, rather than on technology alone. Originality/value This study developed a configurational typology of blockchain-enabled value chain governance by integrating system complexity and governance intensity. It extends the global value chain and digital governance frameworks by explaining why blockchain technology performs different roles across contexts, shifting the understanding of blockchains from a universal traceability tool to a context-dependent governance infrastructure.