IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/proeco/v150y2014icp215-224.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The technological evolution of food traceability systems and their impact on firm sustainable performance: A RBV approach

Author

Listed:
  • Brofman Epelbaum, Freddy Moises
  • Garcia Martinez, Marian

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical framework grounded on the Resource Based View (RBV) of the firm to determine the strategic impacts from the technological evolution of food traceability systems. By viewing food traceability systems as unique resources embedded in firms' routines, the research aims to establish the effects of technological innovations on firm sustainable performance. We empirically test our theoretical framework using data from an online survey to UK food companies that have implemented technological innovations in their traceability systems. Regression analysis supports our overall hypothesis that firms gain sustainable competitive advantage by innovating food traceability systems. Technological innovations in human resources are a major source of improved sustainable performance as they make the resource non-substitutable in the short and medium term. This article provides important policy implications for regulators and businesses as food traceability systems become integral to ensure food supply chain integrity. Regulatory interventions do not drive the technological evolution of food traceability systems; innovation relates to the idiosyncratic situation of the firm, making firms to compete to obtain the right non-substitutable resources, particularly human, to work with regulators.

Suggested Citation

  • Brofman Epelbaum, Freddy Moises & Garcia Martinez, Marian, 2014. "The technological evolution of food traceability systems and their impact on firm sustainable performance: A RBV approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 215-224.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:150:y:2014:i:c:p:215-224
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2014.01.007
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527314000097
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijpe.2014.01.007?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marian Garcia Martinez & Paul Verbruggen & Andrew Fearne, 2013. "Risk-based approaches to food safety regulation: what role for co-regulation?," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(9), pages 1101-1121, October.
    2. Golan, Elise H. & Krissoff, Barry & Kuchler, Fred & Calvin, Linda & Nelson, Kenneth E. & Price, Gregory K., 2004. "Traceability In The U.S. Food Supply: Economic Theory And Industry Studies," Agricultural Economic Reports 33939, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Trienekens, Jacques & Zuurbier, Peter, 2008. "Quality and safety standards in the food industry, developments and challenges," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(1), pages 107-122, May.
    4. David J. TEECE, 2008. "Profiting from technological innovation: Implications for integration, collaboration, licensing and public policy," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: The Transfer And Licensing Of Know-How And Intellectual Property Understanding the Multinational Enterprise in the Modern World, chapter 5, pages 67-87, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    5. Alfaro, Jos A. & Rbade, Luis A., 2009. "Traceability as a strategic tool to improve inventory management: A case study in the food industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(1), pages 104-110, March.
    6. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    7. Erik Brynjolfsson & Lorin M. Hitt, 2000. "Beyond Computation: Information Technology, Organizational Transformation and Business Performance," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 23-48, Fall.
    8. Garcia Martinez, Marian & Fearne, Andrew & Caswell, Julie A. & Henson, Spencer, 2007. "Co-regulation as a possible model for food safety governance: Opportunities for public-private partnerships," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 299-314, June.
    9. Helfat, C.E. & Raubitschek, R.S., 2000. "Product Sequencing: Co-Evolution of Knowledge, Capabilities and Products," Papers 00-1, U.S. Department of Justice - Antitrust Division.
    10. Ngai, E.W.T. & Suk, F.F.C. & Lo, S.Y.Y., 2008. "Development of an RFID-based sushi management system: The case of a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(2), pages 630-645, April.
    11. Gautam Ahuja & Riitta Katila, 2004. "Where do resources come from? The role of idiosyncratic situations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(8‐9), pages 887-907, August.
    12. Wang, X. & Li, D. & O'brien, C. & Li, Y., 2010. "A production planning model to reduce risk and improve operations management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(2), pages 463-474, April.
    13. Lo Nigro, Giovanna & Perrone, Giovanni & Chiapparrone, Silvia, 2012. "Governance forms drivers in bio-pharmaceutical inter-firm relationships," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(2), pages 604-613.
    14. Sébastien Pouliot & Daniel A. Sumner, 2008. "Traceability, Liability, and Incentives for Food Safety and Quality," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 90(1), pages 15-27.
    15. William W. Wilson & Xavier Henry & Bruce L. Dahl, 2008. "Costs and risks of conforming to EU traceability requirements: the case of hard red spring wheat," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(1), pages 85-101.
    16. Fritz, Melanie & Schiefer, Gerhard, 2009. "Tracking, tracing, and business process interests in food commodities: A multi-level decision complexity," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(2), pages 317-329, February.
    17. Teece, David J., 2006. "Reflections on "Profiting from Innovation"," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1131-1146, October.
    18. Canavari, Maurizio & Centonze, Roberta & Spadoni, Roberta, 2006. "Traceability as Part of Competitive Strategy in the Fruit Supply Chain," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25639, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Starbird, S. Andrew & Amanor-Boadu, Vincent, 2006. "Do Inspection and Traceability Provide Incentives for Food Safety?," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 31(1), pages 1-13, April.
    20. Ingemar Dierickx & Karel Cool, 1989. "Asset Stock Accumulation and Sustainability of Competitive Advantage," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(12), pages 1504-1511, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Saak, Alexander E., 2016. "Traceability and reputation in supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 149-162.
    2. Mukesh Kumar & Rakesh D. Raut & Mahak Sharma & Vikas Kumar Choubey & Sanjoy Kumar Paul, 2022. "Enablers for resilience and pandemic preparedness in food supply chain," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 1198-1223, December.
    3. Rodrigues, Daniel & Teixeira, Rafael & Shockley, Jeff, 2019. "Inspection agency monitoring of food safety in an emerging economy: A multilevel analysis of Brazil's beef production industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 1-16.
    4. Emlinger, Charlotte & Latouche, Karine, 2022. "When quality management helps agri-food firms to export," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322407, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Charlotte Emlinger & Karine Latouche, 2021. "When Quality Management Helps Agri-food Firms to Export," Post-Print hal-03518705, HAL.
    6. Montecchi, Matteo & Plangger, Kirk & West, Douglas C., 2021. "Supply chain transparency: A bibliometric review and research agenda," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    7. Muhammad Haseeb & Hafezali Iqbal Hussain & Beata Ślusarczyk & Kittisak Jermsittiparsert, 2019. "Industry 4.0: A Solution towards Technology Challenges of Sustainable Business Performance," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-24, May.
    8. Li Cui & Min Zhang & Kuo-Jui Wu & Ming-Lang Tseng, 2018. "Constructing a Hierarchical Agribusiness Framework in Chinese Belt and Road Initiatives under Uncertainty," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
    9. Liu, Weihua & Long, Shangsong & Wei, Shuang, 2022. "Correlation mechanism between smart technology and smart supply chain innovation performance: A multi-case study from China's companies with Physical Internet," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    10. Zhou, Xiongyong & Xu, Zhiduan, 2022. "Traceability in food supply chains: a systematic literature review and future research directions," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 25(2), March.
    11. Stranieri, S. & Cavaliere, A. & Banterle, A., 2015. "Voluntary traceability standards: which is the role of economic incentives?," 2015 International European Forum (144th EAAE Seminar), February 9-13, 2015, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 206213, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    12. Auler, Daniel P. & Teiceira, Rafael & Nardi, Vinicius, 2016. "Food safety as a field in supply chain management studies: a systematic literature review," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 20(1), September.
    13. Xiongyong Zhou & Madeleine Pullman & Zhiduan Xu, 2022. "The impact of food supply chain traceability on sustainability performance," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 93-115, June.
    14. Zhou, Xiongyong & Zhu, Qinghua & Xu, Zhiduan, 2022. "The mediating role of supply chain quality management for traceability and performance improvement: Evidence among Chinese food firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    15. Sara Walton & Annie Zhang & Conor O'Kane, 2020. "Energy eco‐innovations for sustainable development: Exploring organizational strategic capabilities through an energy cultures framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 812-826, March.
    16. Ximing Chen & Jie Shang & Muhammad Zada & Shagufta Zada & Xueqiang Ji & Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Jesús Ramírez-Sobrino, 2021. "Health Is Wealth: Study on Consumer Preferences and the Willingness to Pay for Ecological Agricultural Product Traceability Technology: Evidence from Jiangxi Province China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
    17. Dai, Hongyan & Ge, Ling & Zhou, Weihua, 2015. "A design method for supply chain traceability systems with aligned interests," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(PA), pages 14-24.
    18. Zhi-Ping Fan & Xue-Yan Wu & Bing-Bing Cao, 2022. "Considering the traceability awareness of consumers: should the supply chain adopt the blockchain technology?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 309(2), pages 837-860, February.
    19. Ronaldo Brito da Silva & Claudia Aparecida de Mattos, 2019. "Critical Success Factors of a Drug Traceability System for Creating Value in a Pharmaceutical Supply Chain (PSC)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-18, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiongyong Zhou & Madeleine Pullman & Zhiduan Xu, 2022. "The impact of food supply chain traceability on sustainability performance," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 93-115, June.
    2. Malik, Omar R., 2008. "Adapting to market liberalization: The role of dynamic capabilities, initial resource conditions, and strategic path choices in determining evolutionary fitness of Less Developed Country (LDC) firms," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 217-231, September.
    3. Resende-Filho, Moises & Buhr, Brian, 2007. "Economics of traceability for mitigation of food recall costs," MPRA Paper 3650, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Fritz, Melanie & Schiefer, Gerhard, 2009. "Tracking, tracing, and business process interests in food commodities: A multi-level decision complexity," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(2), pages 317-329, February.
    5. Pettus, Michael L. & Kor, Yasemin Y. & Mahoney, Joseph T., 2007. "A Theory of Change in Turbulent Environments: The Sequencing of Dynamic Capabilities Following Industry Deregulation," Working Papers 07-0100, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Business.
    6. Lihong Qian & Rajshree Agarwal & Glenn Hoetker, 2012. "Configuration of Value Chain Activities: The Effect of Pre-Entry Capabilities, Transaction Hazards, and Industry Evolution on Decisions to Internalize," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(5), pages 1330-1349, October.
    7. Bruce Rasmussen, 2010. "Innovation and Commercialisation in the Biopharmaceutical Industry," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13680.
    8. Rahul Kapoor & Nathan R. Furr, 2015. "Complementarities and competition: Unpacking the drivers of entrants' technology choices in the solar photovoltaic industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 416-436, March.
    9. Rakesh B. Sambharya & Jooh Lee, 2014. "Renewing Dynamic Capabilities Globally: An Empirical Study of the World’s Largest MNCs," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 137-169, April.
    10. Saak, Alexander E., 2016. "Traceability and reputation in supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 149-162.
    11. Toshiro Wakayama & Karen LaPierre, 2015. "Dynamic Capabilities In The Presence Of A Strategic Paradox," Working Papers EMS_2015_01, Research Institute, International University of Japan.
    12. Stranieri, S. & Cavaliere, A. & Banterle, A., 2015. "Voluntary traceability standards: which is the role of economic incentives?," 2015 International European Forum (144th EAAE Seminar), February 9-13, 2015, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 206213, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    13. repec:bla:jomstd:v:47:y:2010:i:s2:p:1483-1509 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Zhou, Xiongyong & Zhu, Qinghua & Xu, Zhiduan, 2023. "The role of contractual and relational governance for the success of digital traceability: Evidence from Chinese food producers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    15. Leiponen, Aija, 2003. "The Choice of Organizational Form for Collaborative Innovation," Working Papers 127230, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    16. Wang, Heli & Chen, Wei-Ru, 2010. "Is firm-specific innovation associated with greater value appropriation? The roles of environmental dynamism and technological diversity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 141-154, February.
    17. Mahka Moeen, 2017. "Entry into Nascent Industries: Disentangling a Firm's Capability Portfolio at the Time of Investment Versus Market Entry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(10), pages 1986-2004, October.
    18. Leiponen, Aija, 2003. "Organizational Knowledge and Innovation in Business Services," Working Papers 127228, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    19. M.Z. Boutouis & A. Hammoudi & W. Benhassine & M.A. Perito, 2018. "Uncertainty of food contamination origin and liability rules: Implications for bargaining power," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(1), pages 77-92, December.
    20. Nieves, Julia & Haller, Sabine, 2014. "Building dynamic capabilities through knowledge resources," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 224-232.
    21. Davide Consoli & Pier Paolo Patrucco, 2011. "Complexity and the Coordination of Technological Knowledge: The Case of Innovation Platforms," Chapters, in: Handbook on the Economic Complexity of Technological Change, chapter 8 Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:150:y:2014:i:c:p:215-224. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpe .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.