This thesis "Intention to adopt blockchain technology for collaborative business processes by academic libraries in South Africa" is my own work. The purpose of this study was to investigate the intention to adopt blockchain technology for collaborative business processes by academic libraries in South Africa.
INTRODUCTION
Sub-questions
What are the factors influencing the intention to adopt blockchain technology for the collaborative processes of academic libraries. The purpose of the study was to investigate the intention to adopt blockchain technology for collaborative business processes across South African academic libraries.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Types of blockchain
There are currently three types, namely public (permissionless), private (permission) and consortium (hybrid) blockchains (Zheng et al., 2017). Because the participants in the consensus process are also limited and given an identity, as with private blockchain, this is also called permissioned blockchain (Werner et al., 2020).
Consensus mechanisms
Due to the inheritance of the characteristics of public and private blockchains, consortium blockchain is also referred to as hybrid blockchain (Makhdoom et al., 2019). Other nodes may only be allowed access to blockchain transactions, without participating in the consensus process (Lu, 2019).
Provenance of digital content
This section discusses possible applications of blockchain technology in the library and information sector. In addition, the integrity of the document stored digitally on blockchain will be preserved for continuous access to the source due to its distributed nature and immutability (Mohd Pozi et al., 2018).
Bibliographical metadata
Revisions to an article by each author are registered at the user level and when a certain number of revisions are made, they are cryptographically recorded on blockchain until the article is finalized (Mohd Pozi et al., 2018).
Copyright management
Digital first sale
Credentialing
Library network connection
While there is a vast amount of literature on new technology adoption (Clohessy, Acton & Rogers, 2019), very few studies focus on cross-organizational technology adoption (Werner et al., 2021). Much of the literature focuses on theories of technology adoption at the individual level, such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989; Kabir & Islam, 2020), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Awa, Ojiabo, & Emecheta, 2015; Lin , Chang, Chou, Chen, & Ruangkanjanases, 2021), Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) (Maduku, Mpinganjira & Duh, 2016).
Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT)
IDT and TOE framework are mostly applied for adoption at the organizational level, but they still borrow constructs from the individual technology adoption theories (Asare et al., 2016; Maduku et al., 2016). Technology adoption theories and frameworks considered for review in this study are IDT developed by Rogers in 1962, TOE framework proposed by DePietro, Wiarda and Fleischer in 1990 and Technology Adoption in Supply Chain (TASC) model proposed by Asare et al.
Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework
The current study examines the adoption intention of blockchain technology at the organizational level as an inter-organizational technology, where it is expected to have a significant impact by facilitating data sharing and digital interactions between institutions, not for individuals to interact with online. However, TOE alone does not cover inter-organizational relationship factors that influence inter-organizational technology adoption (Esau & Seymour, 2019).
Technology Adoption in Supply Chain (TASC) framework
The findings showed that relative advantage, complexity, cost and competitive pressures were key determinants of the intent to adopt blockchain. Another inter-relationship challenge was the “loss of small suppliers” who cannot meet the demands of the large stores, which ties in with the power characteristics among inter-organizational relationship variables.
Conceptual framework
Technology characteristics
Compatibility refers to the extent to which the technology is perceived to be consistent with organizational values (internal culture, business processes, management practices) (Asare et al., 2016) and compatible with the existing systems with which it will interface for communication without problems (Gholami, Abdekhoda and Gavgani, 2018). For any new technological innovation to be considered for adoption, it must be compatible with the existing technology infrastructure and must fit the task for which it is proposed (Ellis & Van Belle, 2009).
Organisational characteristics
H6: The management support of the new technology positively influences the intention to adopt blockchain technology. Previous literature has found that IT readiness positively influences the adoption and use of the new technology (Asare et al., 2016).
External environment
These initiatives make organizations feel empowered to adopt new technology (Asare et al., 2016; Maduku et al., 2016). However, the adoption of quantum cryptography networks may be delayed due to their cost and complexity (Fedorov et al., 2018).
Inter-organisational relationships
However, the reviewed studies on blockchain for academic libraries are conceptual in nature. To the best of the researcher's knowledge, no empirical study has been conducted on blockchain adoption in the context of academic libraries.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
- Ontology
- Epistemology
- Data validity and reliability
- Regression and correlation analysis
Skills needed to use blockchain technology would be too complex for library employees. A cover letter requesting participation and explaining the concepts and purpose of the study was sent to the participants. The aim of this study was to determine the intention of the academic libraries in South Africa to adopt blockchain technology for their collaborative business processes.
DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Intention to adopt blockchain technology (IN)
Most respondents were unsure about statements IN1, IN2 and IN3, which measure their libraries' intention to adopt blockchain, with 41.1% respectively. When respondents were asked if their libraries plan to adopt blockchain in the near future (IN1), 17.9% slightly agreed, 15.8% slightly disagreed, 12.6% agreed, 7.4%. According to the intention bar chart in Figure 4 below, which shows the general response of libraries to the intention to adopt blockchain, most responses fall into the range of neither agree nor disagree, which is defined in Table 12.
Relative advantage (RA)
Regarding the use of blockchain for one common credential system to improve library productivity, 2.1%) disagree, 8.4%. Although the regression and correlation analysis did not show any significant relationship between relative preference and intention to adopt blockchain, the overall descriptive response of most participants shown in Figure 5 indicates that blockchain technology will provide a relative preference if integrated into their business processes. Therefore, blockchain service providers must develop blockchain systems with functionalities that will address the current challenges of academic libraries and communicate the benefits of their innovations to key decision makers and potential users.
Complexity (CX)
CX3 The skills required to use blockchain technologies will be too complex for library staff. Participants' responses instead indicate that academic libraries in South Africa have professionals with a lot of uncertainty about the complexities of blockchain technologies. 55 | The site will step up its marketing of blockchain technology services that can benefit academic libraries by improving their operations.
Compatibility (CT)
In the second question under compatibility, the majority of academic librarians (40.0%) slightly agreed that blockchain would be compatible with their business processes, followed by 33.7% who agreed with CT2, 14.7% disagreed neither agreed nor disagreed, and 9.5% strongly agreed. Additionally, the majority (36.8%) slightly agreed that blockchain would be compatible with their current IT architecture, with 36.8% and 5.3% agreeing and strongly agreeing, respectively. 57 | P a g e South Africa believes that blockchain technology will be compatible with their business processes, current systems and IT architecture to be able to share predefined information and carry out their joint activities.
Perceived cost (PC)
34.7% of participants disagreed disagreed with the question of whether the cost of supporting the blockchain system will be high. Answer PC1 The costs of implementing a blockchain will far outweigh the expected benefits. PC2 The cost of maintaining the blockchain system will be very high for our library.
Organisational size (Size)
Management support (MS)
Academic libraries were also asked whether top management would support the use of blockchain technology. Combination of positive response (slightly agree (31), agree (13), strongly agree (2)) for top management support, however, dominates uncertain response and negative response (slightly disagree (9), disagree (3) , disagree ( 0)), suggesting that top management support may be considered in blockchain adoption. Due to the uncertainty of the respondents for top management support for blockchain adoption, institutional plans to implement or adopt blockchain soon may be affected.
IT Readiness (IR)
The overall response on IT readiness is shown in Figure 11, with the majority of respondents somewhat agreeing that their libraries have the required expertise and resources to implement blockchain technology and agreeing that they be ready in terms of resources and expertise. However, a significant number (18.9%) of respondents also show uncertainty about IT readiness in their institutions. The implication is that, among other considerations, top management should pay due attention to IT infrastructure and develop expertise among their key staff, to remove the uncertainty in the IT readiness of the libraries.
Industry support (IS)
This is illustrated in Figure 12, with 45 reflecting the majority of respondents who are unsure about industry support. This result of the study is likely to hinder the success of blockchain implementation, as potential users are unsure about facilitating conditions such as industry support for the adoption of this technology. Industry support is relied upon when the technology knowledge base within the institution appears to be insufficient (Maduku et al., 2016).
Customer pressure (CP)
When considering the overall response of the participants on whether customer pressure will influence academic libraries' adoption of blockchain, no idea was slightly agreed. Considering the combination of the numbers for those who were positive (47.3%), neutral (34.7%) and negative (17.4%) towards customer pressure as an important factor in adopting blockchain in academic libraries , positive response dominates other responses. This is consistent with the previous research of Maduku et al. 2016) who established a positive influence of customer pressure on the intention to adopt mobile marketing.
Security and privacy concern (SC)
SC3 With the use of blockchain, there will be a concern about the legal implication of non-compliance with security standards and privacy regulations. The majority of respondents fall within the range of those who had no idea whether data security and privacy will be a concern for blockchain or not, while slightly agreeing. The possible explanation for this study result is the uncertainty surrounding blockchain technology in terms of data security and privacy concerns.
Trust (TR)
For any collaborative technology to be adopted, trust between the participating partners becomes very important for successful adoption and use (Wong, Tan, et al., 2020), as it is a strategic decision that requires a thorough evaluation of the pros and cons required (Liu et al., 2015). Fortunately, academic libraries have a long history of collaboration (Wilding, 2002), which is said to make it easier when a shared technology such as blockchain needs to be acquired collectively for mutual benefit. 2020), in their study of blockchain adoption factors in supply chain management in Malaysia, found that trust between organizations is an inhibitor of blockchain adoption. For this study, it was assumed that there was trust between organizations, although this had no influential relationship with the intention to adopt blockchain.
CONCLUSIONS
Potential applications of blockchain in academic libraries (RQ1)
In the context of academic libraries, potential applications of blockchain technology have been identified as distributed metadata sharing, a shared credential system, and library networking for IPFS design. Duplication of records will be eliminated as users will be able to gain authorized access to resources from participating libraries through a secure credential system. IPFS can also facilitate peer-to-peer file sharing on a blockchain platform among library network members.
Perceptions of intention to adopt blockchain (RQ2)
Perceptions of blockchain technology adoption factors (RQ3)
76 | Send your partners to believe that their interests will be served if blockchain is integrated into their processes.
Determinant factors of blockchain adoption intention (RQ4)
Therefore, the current study fills the gap in the literature and contributes to knowledge on technology adoption by providing empirical evidence on blockchain technology adoption intention in academic libraries. Respondents were assumed to have some degree of knowledge about blockchain technology and its potential applications in academic libraries. The study only focused on eleven factors that influence the intention to adopt blockchain technology.
Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management: An Empirical Study of Factors Affecting User Adoption/Acceptance. Aim to adopt blockchain technology for collaborative business processes by academic libraries in South Africa.
