Understanding digital capabilities and their impacts on Australian agri-food supply chain resilience: Engineering vs. socio-ecological thinking

Taghikhah, FR; Prior, DD; Hafezi, R; Baker, D; Matous, P

Understanding digital capabilities and their impacts on Australian agri-food supply chain resilience: Engineering vs. socio-ecological thinking

Taghikhah, FR Prior, DD Hafezi, R Baker, D Matous, P

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2025, 218, pp. 124191
Issue Date:: 2025-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Taghikhah, FR
dc.contributor.author	Prior, DD
dc.contributor.author	Hafezi, R
dc.contributor.author	Baker, D
dc.contributor.author	Matous, P
dc.date.accessioned	2026-02-13T01:24:36Z
dc.date.available	2026-02-13T01:24:36Z
dc.date.issued	2025-09-01
dc.identifier.citation	Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2025, 218, pp. 124191
dc.identifier.issn	0040-1625
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/193457
dc.description.abstract	Many agri-food supply chains (SCs) are vulnerable to sudden disruptions (i.e., shocks), which can have devastating impacts. SC member firms’ digital capabilities (as routinized and integrated resource bundles) have the potential to address these challenges, yet their nature and differentiated impacts on engineering versus socio-ecological resilience are not well understood in the present literature. The purpose of this study is to address these gaps. First, a comprehensive taxonomy of five digital capabilities (labelled LogisticsTech, SecureData, ClientValue, InsightDecision, and InnovateTech) is developed, along with a set of nine resilience criteria/sub-criteria useful for resiliency evaluation. This was achieved through using a narrative literature review, a content analysis, validated by a Delphi study, and semi-structured interviews. Second, the relative impacts of these capabilities on resilience are assessed through pairwise comparison, network analysis, and system dynamics modelling across six Australian agri-food SCs (Grains, Red Meat, Dairy, Horticulture, Seafood, and Wine). The study findings reveal that Australian agri-food SC members’ digital capabilities play distinct but interconnected roles in enhancing resilience, with their impact varying across persistence (engineering), adaptation, and transformation (socio-ecological) over different time frames. LogisticsTech is crucial for short-term, while SecureData safeguards long-term persistence. Moreover, InsightDecision supports immediate adaptation, ClientValue facilitates long-term adaptation, and InnovateTech drives systemic transformation and future-ready SCs. The study offers strategic insights for managers and policymakers to align digital technology adoption with resilience objectives.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Technological Forecasting and Social Change
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124191
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	10 Technology, 14 Economics, 15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
dc.subject.classification	Science Studies
dc.subject.classification	35 Commerce, management, tourism and services
dc.subject.classification	38 Economics
dc.title	Understanding digital capabilities and their impacts on Australian agri-food supply chain resilience: Engineering vs. socio-ecological thinking
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	218
utslib.for	10 Technology
utslib.for	14 Economics
utslib.for	15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-02-13T01:24:31Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	218

Abstract:

Many agri-food supply chains (SCs) are vulnerable to sudden disruptions (i.e., shocks), which can have devastating impacts. SC member firms’ digital capabilities (as routinized and integrated resource bundles) have the potential to address these challenges, yet their nature and differentiated impacts on engineering versus socio-ecological resilience are not well understood in the present literature. The purpose of this study is to address these gaps. First, a comprehensive taxonomy of five digital capabilities (labelled LogisticsTech, SecureData, ClientValue, InsightDecision, and InnovateTech) is developed, along with a set of nine resilience criteria/sub-criteria useful for resiliency evaluation. This was achieved through using a narrative literature review, a content analysis, validated by a Delphi study, and semi-structured interviews. Second, the relative impacts of these capabilities on resilience are assessed through pairwise comparison, network analysis, and system dynamics modelling across six Australian agri-food SCs (Grains, Red Meat, Dairy, Horticulture, Seafood, and Wine). The study findings reveal that Australian agri-food SC members’ digital capabilities play distinct but interconnected roles in enhancing resilience, with their impact varying across persistence (engineering), adaptation, and transformation (socio-ecological) over different time frames. LogisticsTech is crucial for short-term, while SecureData safeguards long-term persistence. Moreover, InsightDecision supports immediate adaptation, ClientValue facilitates long-term adaptation, and InnovateTech drives systemic transformation and future-ready SCs. The study offers strategic insights for managers and policymakers to align digital technology adoption with resilience objectives.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/193457