Although organizational scholars have extensively examined practice adoption in highly regulated organizations, we know little about the adoption processes specific to technologies that are as nascent as Blockchain. To fill this gap, I conducted a real-time study on the process of adopting Blockchain in a pharmaceutical company. Drawing from the literature on institutional logics and organizational change, and by collecting and analyzing 43 qualitative interviews with leaders inside and outside the company as well as numerous documents, I found that adopting nascent technologies in highly regulated organizations may necessitate the intricate responses to the coexistence of multiple field-level logics within the organization, and the exercise of power when the logic supporting adoption temporarily triumphs. In particular, highly regulated organizations can accomplish the adoption by engaging three processes: 1) aligning the ends of adoption with multiple field-level logics; 2) adhering the means of adoption to the dominant logic; 3) swiftly exercising hierarchical power when the pro-adoption logic gains strength. These findings not only contribute to our understandings of Blockchain adoption, but also to the organizational literature on technology adoption broadly.

Bio: Dr. Chang Lu is a postdoc research fellow at Blockchain@UBC. His research focuses on technology adoption, organization and institutional change, and the interplay between culture and power. Currently, he studies these topics in the context of adopting Blockchain technology in healthcare, examining the adoption processes at both organizational and institutional levels. He has published several articles on leading management journals, and taught senior undergraduate and MBA students Organizational Strategy and Organizational Behavior. He serves as the supervisor of master and MBA students for their research projects, is currently creating education materials for executives about Blockchain in healthcare. He earned his Ph.D. in Strategic Management and Organization, School of Business from the University of Alberta. Prior to his academic career, he worked as an HR professional in China and Europe.