Supply Chain Management And The Fourth Industrial Revolution In Pakistan: A Systematic Review, Proposed Model And Future Directions

Abstract

The Paper introduces a research model on 4IR technologies adoption in supply chain management in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, viewed through the lens of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory. In general, infrastructure quality, skilled labor availability, regulatory environment, and access to financial resources influence technology adoption. Government support has been identified as a mediating variable among these factors. The study ultimately aims to examine the relationships among these variables and to corroborate the hypothesis that government support mediates the impacts of infrastructure, skilled labor, regulatory environment, and financial access on 4IR technology adoption. The proposed hypotheses seek to offer a holistic view of how these elements interact and create pathways for-or barriers against-technology integration in SCM. The study design comprises a quantitative approach in which structured survey questionnaires will be used for collecting primary data from supply chain managers and related decision-makers in major industries in KPK. The stratified sampling technique would account for representation from agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics, among others. The findings of this study can serve as guiding frameworks for practitioners and policymakers in tackling barriers to technology adoption and facilitating the adoption process through government support. While this model has not undergone empirical testing yet, it provides a basis for work to be undertaken in order to validate these relationships through future studies. Areas for future research will involve longitudinal studies to observe changes over time and comparative analyses in different areas to provide an enriched understanding of SCM technology adoption.

Keywords: Supply Chain Management, Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR Technologies, Pakistan, Government Support, Infrastructure Quality, Skilled Labor Availability, Regulatory Environment, Financial Resources, Technology Adoption