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Product cover image for Zhida: Blockchain Potential in Household Waste Recycling

Zhida: Blockchain Potential in Household Waste Recycling

Yu Gong, Shenghao Xie, Steve Brown, Changjun Li, Jiang Duan

Product #:W24882_P
Supplier:Ivey
Discipline:Operations Management, Sustainability
Setting:China, 2020
Details:Case (PDF) • 11 pages • 2021-09-07

Subjects:

Business managementLeadership and managing peopleOperations and supply chain managementManagement

Industries:

Public administration and nonprofits

Geography:

AsiaChina
Your Price:$10.54

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In 2020, the chief executive officer of Zhida Environmental Technology, a waste management company based in Nanjing, China, was considering adopting blockchain technology into the company’s work process. With the concept of Internet plus recycling, the company was committed to waste sorting and had introduced innovative household waste solutions. However, new challenges were emerging, including stagnant resident participation rates, low profit returns, competitor expansion, and limited support from the local government. Inherent blockchain technology functions such as digital token services, a transparent recycling chain, and collaborative governance mechanisms could potentially improve the company’s current operations and provide a first mover position in the market. However, the chief executive officer had to thoroughly consider the decision of adopting blockchain technology: What true value could it offer and what potential challenges could arise?

Learning Objectives

This case can be used in graduate- and postgraduate-level courses on operations management, strategic management, and innovation management. The case is also suitable for managers in digital transformation, corporate social responsibility, and recycling. This case shows how innovative waste management patterns can help a company achieve high circular economy goals, and how new technology applications in waste management can help improve recycling performance. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to
  • understand the recycling chain of waste management;
  • learn how technology drives the waste management industry;
  • explain the basic elements of blockchain technology;
  • apply the technological, organizational, and environmental theoretical framework to assess the concept of real technology adoption; and
  • critically analyze the pros and cons of applying technology into a real business case.
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Case Study: Zhida: Blockchain Potential in Household Waste Recycling | Ivey Publishing