A Blockchain Research Framework

Marten Risius () and Kai Spohrer ()
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Marten Risius: Clemson University
Kai Spohrer: University of Mannheim, Chair of General Management and Information Systems

Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, 2017, vol. 59, issue 6, No 2, 385-409

Abstract: Abstract While blockchain technology is commonly considered potentially disruptive in various regards, there is a lack of understanding where and how blockchain technology is effectively applicable and where it has mentionable practical effects. This issue has given rise to critical voices that judge the technology as over-hyped. Against this backdrop, this study adapts an established research framework to structure the insights of the current body of research on blockchain technology, outline the present research scope as well as disregarded topics, and sketch out multidisciplinary research approaches. The framework differentiates three groups of activities (design and features, measurement and value, management and organization) at four levels of analysis (users and society, intermediaries, platforms, firms and industry). The review shows that research has predominantly focused on technological questions of design and features, while neglecting application, value creation, and governance. In order to foster substantial blockchain research that addresses meaningful questions, this study identifies several avenues for future studies. Given the breadth of open questions, it shows where research can benefit from multidisciplinary collaborations and presents data sources as starting points for empirical investigations.

Keywords: Blockchain; Research framework; Literature review; Distributed ledger technology; Digitalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (70)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12599-017-0506-0

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