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The concept of blockchain technology has gained significant momentum in practice and research in the past few years, as it provides an effective way for addressing the issues of anonymity and traceability in distributed scenarios with multiple parties, which have to exchange information and want to securely collaborate with each other. However, up-to-date, the impact of the structure and setup of business networks on successfully applying blockchain technology, remains largely unexplored.We propose a model-driven approach, combining an ontology and a layer model, that is capable of capturing the properties of existing blockchain-driven business networks. The layers are used to facilitate the comprehensive description of such networks. We also introduce the Blockchain Business Network Ontology (BBO), formalizing the concepts and properties for describing the integral parts of a blockchain network. We show the practical applicability of our work by evaluating and applying it to an available blockchain use case.

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The digital transformation offers organizations new opportunities to expand their existing service portfolio in order to achieve competitive advantages. A popular way to create new customer value is the offer of analytics-based services (ABS)services that apply analytical methods to data to empower customers to make better decisions and to solve complex problems. However, research still lacks to provide a profound conceptualization of this novel service type. Similarly, actionable insights on how to purposefully establish ABS in the market to enrich the service portfolio remain scarce. Our cluster analysis of 105 ABS offered by start-ups identifies four generic ABS archetypes and unveils their specific service objectives and pronounced characteristics. The findings contribute to a more profound theorizing process on ABS by providing a detailed characterization of different ABS types and a systematization regarding strategic opportunities to enrich service portfolios in practice.

Existing information systems research thoroughly explains how task-technology fit and appropriation affect performance on an individual or group level. This was appropriate for many years, as technology is typically used to fulfill a certain task on these levels. Today, however, companies are tightly interconnected and rely on business networks to develop, produce, and deliver products and services. They collaboratively engage in joint implementation and utilization of new technologies that are applied and integrated into their business processes. These technologies, such as the newly introduced blockchain technology, operate across business networks and, thus, unfold their benefits not only on an individual or group level, but ideally on a network level. On this level, though, knowledge of the application and performance of information technology is still scarce. To drive the performance of technology in such networks, we investigate the impact of fit and technology appropriation on a network level. Due to the technology’s expected impact and characteristics, we select blockchain technology to explore potential factors, impacting fit, appropriation and, in turn, performance. We draw upon a set of interviews with experts that have implemented blockchain solutions in large business network settings. Based on our analysis, we propose a comprehensive model elevating the Fit-Appropriation Model to a network level. We contribute to the general understanding of technology utilization and performance by extending existing theory to a network-level perspective. Using insights on blockchain implementations as our empirical base, we also provide guidance to business leaders, intending to connect their partners through blockchain technology.

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