The financial services sector is riddled with efficiency challenges and high costs resulting from the use of legacy financial systems. A solution for these challenges exists in the form of blockchain technology. However, adoption of blockchain in the financial services sector remains a challenge for several reasons. Key to this is the fact that the technology is still new, and there is a lack of clear information on how management of financial institutions can configure their organisations to prepare them for the adoption of the new technology. By investigating the technological aspects of blockchain technology; the organisational preparedness for adoption; and the environmental dynamics of financial services; this paper presents a framework for organisational adoption of blockchain technology. This framework will assist organisations to first reconfigure themselves to prepare for technological adoption; and second, align themselves to the requirements of adoption of blockchain technology. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with experts in the global financial services sector, it was found that there is a methodological approach to the adoption of blockchain technology. Blockchain advocates within organisations will be able to conduct an internal introspection into efficiency challenges they face, learn about blockchain technology, build a business case for adoption, reconfigure the organisation, align the organisation, and adopt blockchain to accord the organisation the necessary efficiencies. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur blockchain, den distribuerade ledger-tekniken, kan påverka arbetssättet för digital marknadsföring. Vårt mål är att besvara hur arbetet i digital marknadsföring ser ut idag och vilka egenskaper blockchain har som kan ändra förutsättningarna för arbetssättet inom digital marknadsföring. Genom intervjuer med tio digitala byråer har vi skapat förståelse för deras arbete och deras roll i relation till kunder och konsumenter. Resultatet från intervjuer och litteratur har visat på att de digitala byråernas arbetssätt kan förändras med blockchain genom förändrade kundrelationer och genom ett förändrat förhållande till konsumenterna. Den mest troliga adoptionen av blockchain innefattar adoption av vissa egenskaper från teknologin som kan effektivisera eller automatisera arbetet, samt ändra förutsättningarna för arbetet inom digital marknadsföring. Den stora utmaningen för adoptionen är arbetet med att flytta över tillgångar till nätverket och integrera alla användare, som både tar tid och omfattar stora kostnader. Distributionen och krypteringen av information i en blockchain skapar möjligheter för transparens, säkerhet och integritet, men ingen kan säkert veta om blockchain kommer att bli lönsamt. / This study aims to investigate how blockchain, the distributed ledger-technology, can affect the way that digital marketing operates. Our goal is to understand how the work-process in digital marketing functions today, and what characteristics blockchain has that can change the prerequisites for the digital marketing process. Through interviews with ten digital agencies, we have created an understanding of their work and their relationships with customers and consumers. The results from the interviews and literature have shown that the work of digital agencies can change the relationship with customers and consumers through blockchain. The most likely adoption of blockchain includes adoption of certain features from the technology that can streamline or automatize work, as well as change the conditions for the work in digital marketing. The major challenge for the adoption is the overall effort to move over assets to the blockchain network and integrate all users, which both takes time and includes huge costs. The distribution and encryption of information in a blockchain creates opportunities for transparency, security and integrity, but nobody knows for certain if blockchain will be profitable.

The adoption of blockchain technology for cross-border payments is not an easy task.However this qualitative study further investigates the connotations associated with adoptionof blockchain in cross-border financial transactions within Swedish financial institutions suchas banks, fintech, and credit management service companies. To answer this question, weinterviewed six participants that work in a credit management company, an open bankingcompany, and a digital mortgage service company using semi-structured interviews. Datacollection was done using this method because the purpose of this research work is to identifypeople's insights and experiences based on their real-life experiences. Data were analyzedusing thematic analysis. Our results showed that the impact of adoption of blockchain incross-border payment transactions in terms of technical implementation challenges,customers' use cases and pilot programs, compliance and security enhancements, industrycollaboration and knowledge sharing, legacy systems integration and interoperability, and keydrivers beyond adoption. In addition, the study findings were compared with the determinantsand influence factors of the model through the lens of the DOI. The implications of this studycould used to help financial institutions' focus on blockchain adoption in cross-borderpayment transactions. As a whole, this study contributes to the idea that financial institutionsshould develop an accurate strategy, as well as guidelines that can assist them in leveragingblockchain technology for cross-border payments, enhancing their services, and fosteringsustainable growth in cross-border digital markets.