Analyzing decision-making in blockchain governance

Schädler, Lukas; Lustenberger, Michael; Spychiger, Florian

doi:10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-29162

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Analyzing decision-making in blockchain governance
Authors:	Schädler, Lukas Lustenberger, Michael Spychiger, Florian
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651 10.21256/zhaw-29162
Published in:	Frontiers in Blockchain
Volume(Issue):	23
Issue:	6
Issue Date:	21-Aug-2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:	2624-7852
Language:	English
Subjects:	Blockchain; Decision-making; Governance; Framework; Community
Subject (DDC):	658.403: Decision making, information management
Abstract:	Blockchain systems are a novel technology that allow for innovative business models. However, due to the decentralized nature of blockchains, new organizational challenges arise. Blockchains require intricate governance mechanisms to align all interests of the involved stakeholders. A crucial part of blockchain governance is decision-making, i.e., the way how a community of a blockchain system can reach decisions. While blockchain governance has received considerable interest of academia, decision-making in blockchains has not yet been sufficiently addressed. Through an exploratory multiple case study, we establish a framework for analyzing decision-making in blockchain systems and identify two dimensions along which decision-making in blockchains can be classified—namely community-driven vs. institution-driven as well as off-chain vs. on-chain decision-making. Even though blockchains are decentralized systems, we can show that there are often highly centralized elements present. The degree of this centralization varies across blockchains and might be connected to the business cases and origins of the different systems. Furthermore, many factors of decision-making processes in blockchains are still off-chain and only some factors are truly on-chain. We arrived at these insights through a structured approach for decision-making in blockchains. Thus, we provide new tools for researcher and practitioners and pave the way to novel blockchain applications with sound decision-making mechanisms.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/29162
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Management and Law
Organisational Unit:	Institute for Organizational Viability (IOV)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Management and Law

Files in This Item:

File	Description	Size	Format
2023_Schaedler-etal_Analyzing-decision-making-in-blockchain-governance_fbloc.pdf		1.44 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Show full item record

Schädler, L., Lustenberger, M., & Spychiger, F. (2023). Analyzing decision-making in blockchain governance. Frontiers in Blockchain, 23(6). https://doi.org/10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651

Schädler, L., Lustenberger, M. and Spychiger, F. (2023) ‘Analyzing decision-making in blockchain governance’, Frontiers in Blockchain, 23(6). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651.

L. Schädler, M. Lustenberger, and F. Spychiger, “Analyzing decision-making in blockchain governance,” Frontiers in Blockchain, vol. 23, no. 6, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651.

SCHÄDLER, Lukas, Michael LUSTENBERGER und Florian SPYCHIGER, 2023. Analyzing decision-making in blockchain governance. Frontiers in Blockchain. 21 August 2023. Bd. 23, Nr. 6. DOI 10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651

Schädler, Lukas, Michael Lustenberger, and Florian Spychiger. 2023. “Analyzing Decision-Making in Blockchain Governance.” Frontiers in Blockchain 23 (6). https://doi.org/10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651.

Schädler, Lukas, et al. “Analyzing Decision-Making in Blockchain Governance.” Frontiers in Blockchain, vol. 23, no. 6, Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fbloc.2023.1256651.