December 2025 Edition
Effect of Blockchain Technology on Transparency in Business Practices
AYANKOLA Ayansola , RAJI Ali Tobi , FAKILEDE Ngozi Ruby
Abstract
Blockchain technology has a transformative impact on business
practices through enhanced transparency in marketing operations. As
marketing evolves in response to digital advancements, blockchain
offers unique opportunities to improve trust, security, and
transparency in customer interactions and data management. This
study aimed to assess the effect of blockchain technology on
transparency within business practices. Blockchain technology was
represented by public blockchain and private blockchain, while
business practices transparency were analyzed through information
accessibility and stakeholder engagement. A descriptive survey
approach was adopted, targeting marketing and IT staff from three
purposively selected firms employing blockchain in their operations.
The population of the study was 400, comprising staff from retail,
financial services, and e-commerce sectors. A total sample size of 150
was drawn from this population. The formulated hypotheses were tested
using z-test statistics. The findings revealed that public blockchain
significantly affect information accessibility in marketing operations,
also, private blockchain impact on stakeholder engagement
significantly. Consequently, blockchain technology was found to have
a positive effect on business administration practices in marketing. The
study recommends that businesses leverage public blockchain for
enhanced information accessibility and also utilize private blockchain
to improve stakeholder engagement.
Keywords
Blockchain Technology, Business Transparency, Information Accessibility Marketing, Public and Private Blockchains, Stakeholder Engagement
Full Text
Download
References
Casino, F., Dasaklis, T. K., & Patsakis, C. (2019). A systematic literature review of blockchain
based applications: Current status, classification and open issues. Telematics and Informatics, 36,
55–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2018.11.006
Catalini, C., & Gans, J. S. (2016). Some simple economics of the blockchain. MIT Sloan Research
Paper No. 5191-16. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2874598
Chen, Y., Li, X., & Wang, J. (2021). Blockchain-enabled supply chain transparency and consumer
trust in the retail sector. Journal of Business Research, 134, 469–479.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.032
Coase, R. H. (1937). The nature of the firm. Economica, 4(16), 386–405.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.1937.tb00002.x
Davidson, S., De Filippi, P., & Potts, J. (2018). Blockchains and the economic institutions of
15
capitalism. Journal of Institutional Economics, 14(4), 639–658.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1744137417000200
DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and
collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147–160.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2095101
Freeman, R. E., Harrison, J. S., Wicks, A. C., Parmar, B. L., & de Colle, S. (2010). Stakeholder
theory: The state of the art. Cambridge University Press.
Gopal, R., Zhdanov, D., & Pentland, A. (2020). Blockchain in business: Applications and
implications for marketing transparency. Management Science, 66(6), 2391–2404.
https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2019.3456
Granovetter, M. (1985). Economic action and social structure: The problem of embeddedness.
American Journal of Sociology, 91(3), 481–510. https://doi.org/10.1086/228311
Iansiti, M., & Lakhani, K. R. (2017). The truth about blockchain. Harvard Business Review, 95(1),
118–127.
Jones, P., Hillier, D., & Comfort, D. (2020). Blockchain technology and customer loyalty
programmes: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 52,
101933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.101933
Ko, T., Kim, J., & Kang, M. (2019). Blockchain-based trust mechanisms for online consumer
reviews. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 35, 100848.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2019.100848
Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Zhu, Q. (2021). At the nexus of blockchain technology, the circular
economy, and product deletion. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, 123601.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123601
Liang, X., Xue, L., & Wu, L. (2020). Blockchain-based data protection in financial services:
Implications for transparency and trust. Financial Innovation, 6(1), 1–18.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-020-00192-1
Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and
ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340–363. https://doi.org/10.1086/226550
Mukherjee, A., & Roy, S. (2020). Private blockchain adoption and stakeholder engagement in
marketing ecosystems. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 28(4), 401–417.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10696679.2020.1796524
Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system. https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
Nofer, M., Gomber, P., Hinz, O., & Schiereck, D. (2017). Blockchain. Business & Information
Systems Engineering, 59(3), 183–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-017-0467-3
16
Oliver, C. (1991). Strategic responses to institutional processes. Academy of Management Review,
16(1), 145–179. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1991.4279002
Pilkington, M. (2016). Blockchain technology: Principles and applications. In F. X. Olleros & M.
Zhegu (Eds.), Research handbook on digital transformations (pp. 225–253). Edward Elgar
Publishing.
Pournader, M., Shi, Y., Seuring, S., & Koh, S. L. (2020). Blockchain applications in supply chains,
transport and logistics. International Journal of Production Research, 58(7), 2063–2081.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1650976
Queiroz, M. M., & Wamba, S. F. (2019). Blockchain adoption challenges in supply chain.
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 144, 70–81.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.03.021
Risius, M., & Spohrer, K. (2017). A blockchain research framework. Business & Information
Systems Engineering, 59(6), 385–409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-017-0506-0
Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Shen, L. (2019). Blockchain technology and its
relationships to sustainable supply chain management. International Journal of Production
Research, 57(7), 2117–2135. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261
Scott, W. R. (2014). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities (4th ed.). Sage
Publications.
Tapscott, D., & Tapscott, A. (2016). Blockchain revolution: How the technology behind bitcoin is
changing money, business, and the world. Penguin Random House.
Treiblmaier, H. (2018). The impact of the blockchain on the supply chain: A theory-based research
framework. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 23(6), 545–559.
https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-01-2018-0029
Treiblmaier, H. (2019). Combining blockchain technology and the physical internet. Logistics, 3(1),
7. https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics3010007
Werbach, K. (2018). The blockchain and the new architecture of trust. MIT Press.
Williamson, O. E. (1975). Markets and hierarchies: Analysis and antitrust implications. Free Press.
Williamson, O. E. (1981). The economics of organization: The transaction cost approach. American
Journal of Sociology, 87(3), 548–577. https://doi.org/10.1086/227496
Williamson, O. E. (1985). The economic institutions of capitalism. Free Press.
Xu, X., Xu, X., & Li, Z. (2018). Designing blockchain-based applications. IEEE Software, 35(4),
14–19. https://doi.org/10.1109/MS.2018.2801537
17
Xu, Y., Wang, X., & Li, Z. (2020). Blockchain-based transparency in digital advertising markets.
Electronic Commerce Research, 20(4), 775–798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-019-09367-6
Zhang, Y., Xue, L., & Huang, Y. (2019). Blockchain technology for advertising transparency. IEEE
Access, 7, 129-137. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2891690
Zhao, J. L., Fan, S., & Yan, J. (2016). Overview of business innovations and research opportunities
in blockchain. Financial Innovation, 2(28), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-016-0049-2
Zheng, Z., Xie, S., & Zhang, H. (2022). Blockchain challenges and opportunities in financial
services marketing. Future Generation Computer Systems, 125, 683–696.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2021.07.026