Technology has impacted businesses in different areas, and, consequently, many companies have found it necessary to make changes in their structures and business models to improve customer satisfaction. The objective was to quantify the effect of dynamic capabilities on customer satisfaction, through digital transformation within the automotive sector. A random sample of 42 questionnaires on 127 surveyed industries was collected during the period 2019–2020 in a pre-COVID-19 context. A structural equation model (SEM) in two stages was applied. In the first stage, two reflective models were built. In a second stage, a structural equation model was evaluated. The results obtained in this study showed that the capabilities of sensing, seizing and innovation were suitably grouped in a construct called “Dynamic Capabilities”. A positive influence of Dynamic Capabilities on customer satisfaction was found. Therefore, the companies in this industry should focus on developing dynamic capabilities to improve customer satisfaction. Once the opportunities have been identified, managers take advantage of their potential (seizing) to transform and exploit knowledge in the creation, innovation, process improvement, and definition of strategies to combine new knowledge with that already existing. The digital transformation has contributed to identify the real needs for customers, to contact them and solve their problems, as well as offering products and services by anticipating their needs.

Central bank-issued digital currencies have sparked significant interest and are currently the subject of extensive research, owing to their potential for rapid settlement, low fees, accessibility, and automated monetary policies. However, central bank digital currencies are still in their infancy and the levels of adoption vary significantly between nations, with a few countries seeing widespread adoption. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling to investigate the nonlinear relationship between key national development indicators and central bank digital deployment across 67 countries. We explore the technological, environmental, legal, and economic factors that affect central bank digital currency adoption by country. We found a statistically significant and positive correlation between countries’ central bank digital currency adoption status and a country’s level of democracy and public confidence in governance, and a negative association between regulatory quality and income inequality. There was no significant association between countries’ central bank digital currency adoption status and their level of network readiness, foreign exchange reserves, and sustainable development goal rank. Thus, we posit that a country that is highly democratic and has good governance adopts central bank digital currencies more readily than others. Based on our findings, we suggested areas for additional research and highlighted policy considerations related to the wider adoption of central bank digital currency.

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the non-linear aspects of the relationship between asymmetry and performance in supply chains (SCs), under varying intensities of collaboration and integration.Design/methodology/approach: The paper offers a useful new approach to designing strategic elements of supply chain management (SCM) relationships. Using the partial least squares method, an empirical study of 66 companies in Spain has been conducted to clarify contemporary relationships, suggest new directions and ultimately contribute toward developing SCM theory.Findings: The influences of asymmetry on performance in varying collaboration and integration contexts are shown to be unstable and have non-linear paths. It is inappropriate for all firms to collaborate or integrate continually, even for a prescribed period. Furthermore, due to asymmetry, SCM processes are more complex.Research limitations/implications: The results’ validity may be limited to contexts specific to Spanish SCs. It would be valuable to investigate the impact of asymmetry on firms’ performance and relationships in other markets.Practical implications: Collaborations and integration between partners in a SC might change the role of asymmetry from restraining to improving performance. The best way to improve performance in asymmetric relationships is to collaborate. Certain dimensions of integration and full integration are not necessarily required to improve firms’ performance under asymmetry conditions.Originality/value: The study adds a new viewpoint on SCM by suggesting that not all collaboration and integration developments lead directly to improved performance.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the non-linear aspects of the asymmetry-performance relationship under varying conditions of trust and innovation. Its novel approach is useful for addressing the strategic elements of supply chain management (SCM) relationships based on trust and innovation decisions.Design/methodology/approach: Results are based on a study of 90 managers from small- and medium-sized firms in Spain. Instead of a classical linear relationship analysis, the authors performed a non-linear analysis, using polynomial modeling and Warp 3 partial least squares method, which provides a more nuanced view of the data and constitutes an original approach to empirical research in SCM.Findings: This study adds a new viewpoint on SC relationships by suggesting that not all trust and innovation development leads directly to performance improvement. The principal finding is, in varying trust and innovation contexts, that the influences of asymmetry on performance have uneven characteristics and follow non-linear paths.Research limitations/implications: This study focuses on only one particular institutional environment in one country. The data are also cross-sectional, which makes it difficult to empirically test causality.Practical implications: The findings provide rational insights to managers on when it is appropriate to reduce (or not) asymmetric relationships with partners.Originality/value: Trust and innovation are important and ones of the key requirements of supply chain relationships in any environment, this study argues that the interactions of key SCM elements that drive members to better performance are more complex and non-linear.

Blockchain technology and its business applications have attracted considerable scholarly interest, leading to a surge in academic studies. While this wealth of research is beneficial, it also poses challenges in identifying the most relevant publications. Despite the availability of survey articles, research on this topic remains fragmented and concentrates on specific industrial sectors. This review addresses this gap by providing a detailed literature analysis, highlighting key themes, recent advancements, the benefits of blockchain adoption for businesses, and associated challenges. This study employs a multi-method literature review approach called bibliometric systematic literature review (B-SLR), combining bibliometric analysis with systematic literature review (SLR) techniques. This review critically examines studies of blockchain adoption in modern business from 2017 to 2023. Our findings reveal a decline in academic publications on blockchain for businesses since 2023, along with a shift in core themes from traditional supply chains to exploring blockchain’s role in environmentally sustainable supply chains, such as reverse logistics, green supply chains, and the circular economy. Additionally, there is an emerging focus on the role of blockchain in virtual environments, such as the metaverse and digital twins. Drawing from our analysis, we also present a theoretical framework and highlight ten crucial areas for future research.

Purpose: This research examines the relationship between strategic leadership, dynamic capabilities and sustainable competitive advantages. Unlike previous studies that focused on different independent variables or lacked intervening variables altogether, this research delves into how the various dimensions of strategic leadership and sustainable competitive advantage can enhance, thereby strengthening the dynamic capabilities of the organization and how strategic leadership itself can impact on sustaining competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach: The descriptive analytical method was used to achieve the objectives of the study and answer its questions. Statistical information was conducted through structured equation modelling with Smart-PLS.4 with data coming from a representative sample of Palestinian pharmaceutical companies. Findings: The results of the study concluded that strategic leadership positively impacts sustainable competitive advantages and that sustainable competitive advantage is positively affected by the dimensions of strategic leadership (human capital, social capital) in Palestinian pharmaceutical companies. The results also showed that strategic leadership has a positive impact on the dynamic capabilities of Palestinian pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, the results showed that sustainable competitive advantage has a positive impact on the dynamic capabilities in Palestinian pharmaceutical companies and that dynamic capabilities are affected by sensing ability, learning ability and integration ability. Finally, the results showed that sustaining competitive advantage impacts on the technological innovation, knowledge management and organizational agility of Palestinian pharmaceutical companies. Practical implications: The study provides guidelines for managers and policymakers with practical insights on how to utilize strategic leadership practices to improve dynamic capabilities and foster sustainable competitive advantages; furthermore, how to create supportive environments for leadership and innovation in regions with socio-economic challenges, and also assists in strategic leadership’s ability to adapt in emerging economies. Originality/value: This research shows that strategic leadership contributes to achieving sustainable competitive advantages in Palestinian pharmaceutical companies by directing them towards change and innovation and developing dynamic capabilities that allow the company to adapt to industrial transformations and compete effectively in the market. Firms can, therefore, provide evidence through this analysis of how sustainable competitive advantages can be explained as a result of effective strategic leadership and the deployment of dynamic capabilities.