The Relevance of Blockchain for Collaborative Networked Organizations

Blockchain, a distributed secure digital ledger technology, is a relatively recent development with potentially transformational implications for economy and society. Its specific characteristics enable new decentralized models of distributed and trusted transactions. This position paper explores the implications of blockchain for collaborative networked organizations. In particular we aim at understanding the implications for companies in various economic sectors, and how new forms of networked organizations and new business models will be enabled. We also will focus on enablers of blockchain innovations, in particular with respect to governance of blockchain-based platforms and business networks. The paper results in a discussion of research challenges in the field of blockchain-enabled collaborative networked organizations.