Towards an integrated methodology for the development of blockchain-based solutions supporting cross-organizational processes

Abstract

Blockchain technology is argued to have the potential to facilitate the development and improvement of cross-organizational business processes, on various aspects of the business process management discipline. In this paper, we review existing work on the use of blockchain technology to support business processes with a focus on cross-organizational settings. Based on this, we suggest to view blockchain as a software connector helping organizations to integrate the IT systems they use to support business processes. In addition, this paper suggests to use a model-driven engineering approach for the development of such connectors. By doing so, the need to develop a methodology helping to model and implement blockchain-based software connectors supporting cross-organizational business processes is highlighted. By adopting such an approach, organizations would be able to facilitate and speed up the development of blockchain-based solutions. This in turn would facilitate experimentations with this technology, which is considered as an important phase for organizations to derive value from it.