Exploring staff adoption of blockchain technology in higher education: Insights from AHP analysis

Abstract

Blockchain technology has the potential to eradicate fraud, improve institutional legitimacy, and increase efficiency, security, and transparency. Despite its potential, the adoption of blockchain technology among staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) remains limited, particularly in emerging economies like Oman, due to limited technological infrastructure, insufficient preparedness of institutions, and a lack of skilled employees. Research undertaken in developed countries has identified the advantages of blockchain for credential verification and administrative purposes, but these findings cannot be generalized in Oman due to its distinct context. To fill this research gap, the objective of this study is to identify, explore, and prioritize the critical factors that influence staff adoption of blockchain technology in HEIs in Oman. This study employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize the factors, and data were collected from 16 staff members employed at universities in Oman. The findings identified Leadership and Governance as the most important factors, highlighting the need for strong top management support, policies, and strategic direction. The second-most important factor, financial management, emphasizes the importance of financial investment, cost-benefit analysis, and financial audit. Technical Infrastructure ranked third, highlighting scalability and security, data security and privacy, and system interoperability. Collaboration and Partnerships ranked fourth, emphasizing collaboration and partnerships with academia, industry, and government, while Human Resources ranked lowest, indicating the need for skilled workforce training and capacity building to effectively adopt blockchain technology. This study offers insights for policymakers, HEIs, administrators, staff, and blockchain technology developers. The originality of this study lies in bridging the gap between academic theory and institutional decision-making by providing the policy-relevant prioritization model for blockchain technology adoption among staff in HEIs, grounded in the Oman context and validated through expert consensus.