Boundary spanning in a digital world: the case of blockchain
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Published version
Author(s)
Mulligan, C
Godsiff, P
Brunelle, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Blockchain is a relatively new technology that is often described as “creating trust” or “removing intermediaries.” In this paper, we posit that blockchain is a new form of digitally enabled boundary spanning that allows co-ownership models for the companies in question. Where companies have traditionally employed humans to act as interfaces to the external world, new digital technologies enable a digitized approach to many corporate operations that require interaction toward the external market and environment within which firms must operate. Blockchain is a special subset of digital technologies in this regard, enabling companies to co-operate to control parts of the market and to internalize transaction costs that until now have been a market function: using blockchain companies effectively create a new transaction boundary that means boundary spanning activities can be deeply embedded in core business functions, rather than kept as peripheral actions. This digitally enabled boundary spanning is a key attribute of the emerging digital economy. Understanding its implications is of critical importance for economics, business, and social science literature.
Date Issued
2020-09-22
Date Acceptance
2020-07-17
Citation
Frontiers in Blockchain, 2020, 3
ISSN
2624-7852
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Blockchain
Volume
3
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2020 Mulligan, Godsiff and Brunelle. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000678837400001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
blockchain
boundary spanning
Computer Science
Computer Science, Information Systems
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
COSTS
digitalization
ECONOMICS
FIRM
PERFORMANCE
Science & Technology
strategic alliances
Technology
TECHNOLOGY
transaction costs
VERTICAL INTEGRATION
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 37
Date Publish Online
2020-09-22