Distributed ledger technology as a catalyst for open innovation adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises

Open innovation and distributed ledger technology (DLT) are both based on the underlying principles of distribution and sharing. While open innovation is about sharing knowledge to improve innovation processes and performance, DLT is a distributed data ledger that is utilized to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure immutability, traceability, security, and transparency. In this paper, we investigate the barriers to open innovation currently faced by small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) that DLT can solve. To achieve this goal, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 experts in open innovation and DLTs from Spain, Germany, Australia, and India. The results of our exploratory study show that DLTs can help to solve several problems, including external barriers, such as problems with contracts, financing, lack of trust, raw materials, lack of information, domestic and international market limitations, IP rights, and governmental regulations as well as bureaucracy. Internal challenges include insufficient funding, organizational systems that are out of date, and lack of trust. When it comes to difficulties associated with the management of open innovation, external barriers are frequently caused by customers' demands, while internal barriers are frequently caused by organizational culture or human nature, which cannot be improved by DLTs. Finally, SMEs might face new obstacles when integrating DLTs, such as integration problems, complex transition phases, and high setup costs as well as problems with attracting and retaining qualified employees

Why, Where, and How are Organizations Using Blockchain in their Supply Chains? Motivations, Application areas, and Contingency Factors

Purpose Blockchain is increasingly being considered for deployment in operations and supply chain management. However, evidence from practice is still scarce on why, where, and how organizations seek to apply the technology in the supply chain across different industries. The study develops a comprehensive framework to enhance understanding of the application areas of blockchain technology in the supply chain, as well as organizations’ motivations in seeking blockchain solutions and relevant contingency factors influencing applications.Design/methodology/approachWe investigate 50 use cases of blockchain applications in the supply chain, covering six industries. We apply contingency theory and conduct a detailed qualitative textual and correlation analysis to identify and compare blockchain adoption motivations, application areas and contingency factors across the different sectors. FindingsThe analysis develops an evidence-based framework that captures ten principal motivations in seeking blockchain solutions, three main blockchain application areas along with important application sub-categories, and five clusters of contingency factors that determine blockchain deployment and its success in different industrial sectors.Research implications The study expands the limited cross-sectoral research on blockchain applications and motivations in the supply chain. Using contingency theory, we present a comprehensive framework that captures the drivers and factors relating to blockchain adoption in the supply chain in a nomological network. The study lays the foundation for further theoretical perspectives and empirical research to investigate relevant sectoral characteristics and their importance for different types of blockchain applications in the supply chain.Practical implications The study informs practitioners about potential supply chain application areas that can be enhanced through blockchain technology, taking account of the specific characteristics of their product, business and manufacturing processes, supply network configuration, industry standards, regulations, and market demand.Originality/valueThe study is the first to provide cross-sectoral evidence on the relevance of organizations’ motivations and numerous contingency factors on blockchain application areas in the supply chain

Blockchain and Organizational Characteristics : Towards Business Model Innovation

Blockchain seems to challenge the current business models by providing opportunities for new value creation. However, several research gaps remain in literature in evaluating how firms can leverage new approaches to innovation management and opportunities created by blockchain. Supporting organizational characteristics affecting digital innovation management process also need attention in order to challenge the traditional theories while developing unique fundamental assumptions between innovation processes and outcomes. Thus, blockchain and organizational characteristics need to be understood as an encompassing, overarching and interrelated ecosystem in digital innovation management. Grounding on digitalization and innovation management, this research conceptualizes how blockchain technology and supporting organizational characteristics (i.e., R&D investment, strategic alignment, cultural support, top management knowledge and involvement, insights from customers and end-users) can be integrated for business model innovation. This research develops a conceptual framework involving multi-disciplinary collaborative actions that strengthen and empower business model innovation.©2020 Springer. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Advances in Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Communication of Design: Proceedings of the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conferences on Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Human Factors in Communication of Design, July 16-20, 2020, USA. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51626-0_9.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

The adoption of public e-payment services

Electronic government initiatives in the majority of cases pass a number of different stages, starting with a static Web site and ending with fully interactive sites that are capable of handling a multitude of transactions. The possibility of transferring money online plays an important role for those e-government initiatives that include financial transactions, such as paying taxes, fees, or fines. This paper combines the issues of e-payment and e-government, and proposes a model that depicts important factors influencing users' online payment behavior. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach has been used to assess the strength of the relationships among different constructs, including users' previous experience, their trust in e-payment security, and the perceived convenience of the payment process. Our results indicate that trust (both in a frictionless use of the system and in e-payment security) can be seen as an important antecedent for the adoption of online payments on the part of the users. From the government's point of view, the potentials of exerting influence seem to be somewhat limited: while national institutions in developed countries are usually perceived as trustworthy, users' attitudes toward the Internet may be more skeptical, depending on their previous experiences. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved

The adoption of public e-payment services

Electronic government initiatives in the majority of cases pass a number of different stages, starting with a static Web site and ending with fully interactive sites that are capable of handling a multitude of transactions. The possibility of transferring money online plays an important role for those e-government initiatives that include financial transactions, such as paying taxes, fees, or fines. This paper combines the issues of e-payment and e-government, and proposes a model that depicts important factors influencing users' online payment behavior. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach has been used to assess the strength of the relationships among different constructs, including users' previous experience, their trust in e-payment security, and the perceived convenience of the payment process. Our results indicate that trust (both in a frictionless use of the system and in e-payment security) can be seen as an important antecedent for the adoption of online payments on the part of the users. From the government's point of view, the potentials of exerting influence seem to be somewhat limited: while national institutions in developed countries are usually perceived as trustworthy, users' attitudes toward the Internet may be more skeptical, depending on their previous experiences. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved

Wibson: A Case Study of a Decentralized, Privacy-Preserving Data Marketplace

The Internet offers unprecedented opportunities to collect large amounts of personal data at low cost. Typically, it is not only the data collection process but also their further use which is opaque to the individuals. Blockchain technology promises to return Internet users control over their personal data. In this chapter we present and discuss Wibson, a decentralized data marketplace based on the blockchain that provides a way for individuals to control and monetize their personal information in a trusted environment. By using a token and blockchain-enabled smart contracts Wibson allows data sellers and buyers to interact while allowing them to keep their desired level of anonymity. This chapter is based on qualitative interviews and the thorough analysis of the technical documentation. We describe the underlying rationale and functioning of Wibson and provide suggestions for future research at the intersection of blockchain and privacy