Transformação digital de instituições de ensino superior envolvendo a tecnologia blockchain: desenvolvimento de um framework de análise

Abstract

Digital transformation through digital technologies has been a means for several organizations to remain competitive in the current scenario. Higher education institutions (HEIs) do not escape this rule for being increasingly expected to ensure better services, information access facilities, as well as different solutions that meet expectations in the increasingly digital world. However, to technology is only attributed part of the solution in this scenario, which will keep organizations active within their markets. It is due to the fact that, to navigate new pathways towards the creation of value, it is necessary to understand the context experienced for, then, to plan the process of change that involves, besides technology, aspects such as changes in the organization's structure, processes, and culture. In this sense, the present study aims to identify the key aspects related to the digital transformation process of HEIs that include the blockchain technology for the development of an analysis framework, as a tool to guide HEI managers, through the outlined aspects. To do so, the Design Science Research (DSR) research method was chosen to support the creation of this framework, which is constituted by the key aspects found in the consulted literature in this study. Thus, a total of 21 individuals (technology professionals engaged in projects with the themes and managers of higher education institutions) were interviewed to validate the four versions of the framework. Subsequently, these validations were compared to the literature. The purpose of these assessments, based on empirical evidence, was to attest to the usability, flexibility, completeness, and adequacy of the tool to the institution regarding its future use. Hence, from the results obtained, it was found that the tool developed was able to meet the objectives of the study, contemplating the key aspects of the themes of digital transformation and the blockchain technology within the context of HEIs, thus, generating expansion of theoretical knowledge within this field. In addition, the HEI managers found that the proposed framework seems functional, easy to use, and detailed, hence, constituting a managerial contribution to the present study.