CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND METHODS
5.14 Case Study Protocol
The below section shows the list of the questions that were aligned with, but not bound by, the conceptual framework. Interviewees were allowed to venture to other topics during the interviews. This enabled the researcher to keep the exploratory nature of the interviews while also ensuring that all opinions stated by the participants were examined.
100 Table 6: Qualitative Measurement of Conceptual Constructs
Theory Theory
Concept informing the Proposition
Proposition Key Construct Measurement Corresponding Interview questions
Structuration Theory (ST)
Structure P1: Blockchain project is impacted by rules and resources
Role of rules, regulations and resources
Participant’s perception of the extent to which the social structure rules (i.e. policies, ICT strategy, procedures etc.) have influenced and impacted Blockchain implementation process
1.1 In your opinion, what is the influence of the defined organizational ICT strategy on Blockchain project objectives, implementation process and outputs?
1.2 What was the impact of your entity’s organizational procedures and policies on Blockchain project implementation?
1.3 In your opinion, was there any impact of other entities’
organizational procedures and policies on your organization’s Blockchain project implementation?
1.4 Did you experience any challenges while performing the activities assigned to you on this project, particularly in relation to the organization’s defined policies, procedures and strategies?
1.5 In your opinion, what was the impact of the allocated project budget on the Blockchain project objectives, activities and outputs?
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1.6 What was the impact of the existing ICT infrastructure on the Blockchain implementation process?
1.7 What was the impact of the existing ICT infrastructure on the selected Blockchain product in terms of the technological solution? How extendable was the existing ICT infrastructure to integrate and host the new Blockchain application?
Human Agents P2: Blockchain project is impacted by human agents’ competencies and capabilities.
Competencies and capabilities
Participant’s insight about the human agents (i.e. ICT management, IT team, Business users, Citizens etc.) have influenced and impacted the Blockchain implementation process
1.8 In your opinion, what was the impact of the IT team capabilities and resources on the Blockchain implementation process?
Duality of structure P3: Blockchain project is impacted by human agents’ actions.
Impact of human actions
Participant’s insight about the human actions impacted the organizational rules procedures
1.9 What changes were required to the organizational rules, policies or procedures as a result of the implementation of Blockchain technology?
a) Who was/were the key stakeholder(s) championing this change?
b) Did you experience any resistance to this change?
c) Can you outline the change management process followed to implement this change?
1.10 What were the main changes required for the business process in order to implement Blockchain technology?
d) Who was/were the key stakeholder(s) championing this change?
e) Did you experience any resistance to this change?
f) Can you outline the change management process followed to implement this change?
1.11 What were the main changes required to the existing ICT infrastructure in order to implement Blockchain technology?
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a) Who was/were the key stakeholder(s) championing this change?
b) Did you experience any resistance to this change?
c) Can you outline the change management process followed to implement this change?
Actor Network Theory (ANT)
Problematization P4: Blockchain Project is impacted by identifying the problem and its solution
Problems and Solution Participant’s perception of the approaches taken to identify existing problems and how the implementation of Blockchain technology was perceived as a solution to these problems.
1.12 In your opinion, what were the main strategic and operational objectives that have driven the implementation of Blockchain technology in your organization?
1.13 In your opinion, what were the main problems/issues that were expected to be solved by the implementation of Blockchain technology?
1.14 In your opinion, what were the key limitations in the existing legacy system that may have caused these issues/problems?
1.15 How was the decision taken to implement Blockchain technology in your department/organization?
a. Why did you select Blockchain technology?
b. Why was Blockchain technology considered the best solution to the problems facing your department/organization?
1.16 What were the desired/expected outcomes of the implementation of Blockchain technology?
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1.17 Was there a firm/entity guidance for Blockchain implementation in your department/organization?
1.18 Was there a clear road map to the implementation of Blockchain technology in your department/organization?
1.19 What were the main implementation process steps that were followed by your department when implementing Blockchain technology?
Interessement P5: Involving key actors
i.e. Blockchain Stakeholders.
Actors’ Roles Participant’s perception of the key actors involved in the Blockchain project. Actors who influenced other actors within the network and who share the same interest of the key actors.
1.20 Can you please provide more details on the key team members who were involved in the Blockchain project?
1.21 Can you provide details on any external units (outside your department, or outside your organization) who were involved in the project? How did they become involved in the project?
1.22 Was the end-user of the service (i.e. the public) involved in the project? How did end-users become involved in the project?
1.23 What other actors/components (human or non-human) do you believe had a role to play, or exerted influence during the implementation of the project?
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Enrollment P6: Blockchain project is impacted by the role of each actor.
Stability Participant’s perception of the role and contributions of each actor in the Blockchain project.
1.24 Can you please describe the role of each team member and his contribution to the Blockchain project?
1.25 Can you please describe the role of each external actor and his contribution to the Blockchain project?
1.26 In your opinion, what were the main contributions of the end- users of the public service to the Blockchain project?
1.27 How do you perceive the influence of Blockchain technology’s features and functions on the project?
1.28 What was the role of other actors/components (human or non- human) that may have had an influence during the implementation of the project?
Mobilization P7: Blockchain Project is impacted by the strategy to achieve stability
Participant’s perception of the extent to which a road map developed by IT department insures the harmonized interactions of all actors with the new Blockchain system to reach stability state.
1.29 In your opinion, what are the key advantages of adopting Blockchain technology and how was the government service changed?
1.30 What were the key lessons learned from the Blockchain project?
1.31 In your opinion, how was the new Blockchain system accepted by the public users? How fast did users adapt to the new decentralized process?
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1.32 In your opinion, how was the new Blockchain system accepted by employees? How fast did they adapt to the new Blockchain-enabled process?
1.33 What were the key challenges that your department faced after the implementation of the Blockchain system?
1.34 What actions have been taken to overcome these challenges?
1.35 How long did it take for the IT department to stabilize the Blockchain system?
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