Thesis

Perceptions of blockchain adoption in the oil and gas supply chain : a qualitative UTAUT investigation

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2023
Thesis identifier
  • T16575
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 201973077
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Abstract
  • The aim of this research is to investigate the perceptions of Blockchain technology adoption in the oil and gas supply chain in Nigeria. Although Blockchain has the potential to transform complex supply chain challenges such as the lack of transparency, accountability, trusted relationships and efficiency, there is a dearth of empirical evidence that predicts the adoption decision within the oil and gas supply chain and how it affects adoption of Blockchain among organisations. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) is the theoretical framework for this research, and it has been utilised as a lens to predict stakeholder’s perceptions of Blockchain adoption in the Nigeria oil and gas industry. The research was carried out using a systematic literature review to identify the knowledge gaps on the level of adoption, then, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with critical stakeholders from the Nigerian oil and gas industry's upstream, mid-stream, and downstream sectors, these data were analysed using thematic analysis method. The organisational revealed leadership and senior management, awareness and knowledge, business model, and commitment to adoption as influential factors for the adoption of Blockchain in the oil and gas supply chain. The institutional revealed industry dynamics, influence and control, and institutional collaboration as influential factors for the adoption of Blockchain in the oil and gas supply chain. The internet, infrastructure and connectivity, data security, implementation cost, and technology user acceptance were discovered to be technologically influential factors, and finally, the operational environment revealed emerging trends, government policy and support, regulation and regulatory framework as influential factors for the adoption of Blockchain in the oil and gas supply chain. The research also conducted UTAUT embedded analysis of the findings from the thematic outcome, and a member check to validate the research's findings. The results of the thematic analysis were organised into four categories: organisational, institutional, technological, and operational environment. Furthermore, the UTAUT embedded analysis confirms the relevance of the findings through the lens of the UTAUT constructs, and discovered that the business model, institutional collaboration, and emerging trends aligns within the construct of performance expectancy. The effort expectancy construct were awareness and knowledge, data security, and technology user acceptance. Social influences align with leadership and senior management, and influence and control. While facilitating conditions aligns with level of commitment to adoption, internet, infrastructure and connectivity, government policy and support, and regulations and regulatory framework. However, the UTAUT embedded analysis conducted revealed the implication of industry dynamics as a construct that was discovered within the context of Blockchain adoption in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. The research contributed to theoretical and practical by being the first to empirically investigate the perceptions of Blockchain adoption in the Nigeria oil and gas supply chain. The findings of this research provide an empirical basis for the adoption of Blockchain at the cross-organisational levels in a complex industry of the oil and gas. The steps taken in this research address the factors that will influence the adoption of Blockchain technology to solve supply chain challenges such as lack of transparency, trust, and efficiency. The novelty of this research is the first to conduct an in-depth analysis and identify the factors that influence Blockchain adoption in the oil and gas supply chain on organisational, institutional, technological, and environmental levels. It has also discovered industry dynamics as an additional construct of Blockchain technology adoption by the theoretical framework of the UTAUT model. The implication of this research highlighted the influence of factors on the adoption and how the Nigeria oil and gas will adopt Blockchain technology. This research provided basis for adoption of technology that provides transparency, build trust in relationship and increases efficacy which will help address the pain points in the Nigerian oil and gas supply chain. The findings were validated through a member check with seven of the stakeholders within the Nigeria oil and gas industry. The research has provided managerial implications of the findings and how the Nigerian oil and gas industry will approach the adoption of Blockchain to solve complex supply chain challenges such as lack of transparency, revenue leakages, efficiency, and downstream as well as subsidy regime.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Whitfield, Robert Ian
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