Mapping the Technology-Accountability Nexus in Global Supply Chains

Abstract

Amidst persistent human rights violations within global supply chains, this study aims to map the complex technology-accountability nexus to understand its dynamics and paradoxes. Employing a systematic integrative review of 123 articles from the Scopus database, analyzed via IRaMuTeQ textual factor analysis, the research identifies three core clusters: Legitimacy and CSR, Compliance and Governance, and Labor Ethics. The central result reveals a technology paradox, where digital tools can simultaneously enhance transparency and introduce new opacities and power imbalances. This study's primary contribution is a nuanced conceptual map that challenges tech-solutionism and advocates for holistic approaches. Future research directions include exploring worker-driven social responsibility (WSR) models and the implications of generative AI on corporate accountability, highlighting the study's relevance for both scholars and practitioners navigating this evolving field.