Understanding governance and control challenges of blockchain technology in healthcare and energy sectors: a historical perspective

Abstract

Purpose Despite rapid growth in blockchains, there was limited discussion about non-technical and technical factors on blockchain governance in the extant literature. This study aims to contribute new knowledge to the literature on potential factors affecting the adoption, governance and scale-up of blockchain technologies in the health-care and energy sectors, presented in a holistic framework. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts the qualitative case study research methodology to research blockchain governance in practice. The authors contacted a national blockchain consortium to conduct their research on the governance issue of blockchain. Two leading case organizations, one from the health-care industry and another from the energy industry, were deliberately selected for their study for their active role and reputation in the consortium and practical experience in blockchain governance. Findings The developed framework helps identify potential research gaps or concerns on adopting a blockchain as well as assessing blockchain implementation and governance in other industries. Depending on the circumstances, some of the factors can be either drivers or obstacles to further blockchain development. The different forces may also be more or less evident over time as blockchains develop. The two real-world case studies contribute to the information technology governance literature on blockchain governance. Originality/value The results of this case studies will be beneficial for developing theories and empirical models to determine antecedents for achieving consensus and trust in blockchain and testing the relationship between these factors and blockchain governance at different levels. As a result, theories related to the governance of blockchain technologies could be further developed.

Editorial: The evolution of human-machine interaction, from Taylorism to human-centered approach

“…Artificial intelligence cannot replace individuals due to their lack of emotional intelligence de Oliveira and Rodrigues, 2021) and so it supports the relevance of "humans work with machines" (Taylor, 1911). Zhang et al (2023) discuss the role of blockchain in the current economy by adopting a historical perspective. The blockchain is one of the technologies that has brought a radical change in a business processes (Bracci et al, 2022;Pham et al, 2023;Al-Swidi et al, 2023;Li et al, 2023).…”

“…Zhang et al (2023) discuss the role of blockchain in the current economy by adopting a historical perspective. The blockchain is one of the technologies that has brought a radical change in a business processes (Bracci et al , 2022; Pham et al , 2023; Al-Swidi et al , 2023; Li et al , 2023).…”

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“…The emergence of blockchain technology (BT) has quickly become a powerful force with the potential to disrupt several industries, including the healthcare business [1]. Amidst the many issues faced by healthcare businesses, including protecting patient data, assuring data compatibility, preserving patient confidentiality, and enhancing the clarity of medical records, blockchain emerges as a pioneering solution [2,3]. The integration of BT in the healthcare sector has been steadily increasing in recent years, providing a fundamental change in how healthcare organizations handle, exchange, and safeguard patient data [4].…”