Are Blockchain-based Systems the Future of Project Management? A Preliminary Exploration

Abstract

Blockchain technologies have introduced a platform for a new wave of project management systems, providing managers with a range of characteristics, capabilities, and feature sets to aid their practice as they engage in increasingly complex processes and projects. This paper presents an explorative case-study in which open-ended interviews were conducted with practicing project managers. The interviews are analysed to understand currently deployed project management tools, technologies, and methods and to contextualise how blockchain-based systems may allow for improvements. Five constructs emerge: transparency, control, dynamic status updating, incentives, and trust. Feedback suggests blockchain-based alternatives could offer significantly better performance within each of these constructs, and thus should be explored as the technological backbone to the next generation of project management systems.