Legitimizing Disruptive Technology: The Case of Blockchain in the Human Resources Sector

Previous research demonstrates that actors seek acceptance of innovations during the diffusion and adoption process, but exactly what kind of acceptance they seek and how they go about obtaining this remains unclear. This study interrogated academic databases and Twitter to identify and analyze research and grey literature concerning blockchain adoption in human resources (HR). The data was analyzed through the theoretical lens of pragmatic, moral, and cognitive legitimacy to explore how potential adopters of this innovation conceive its value and alignment with their goals. The results show how pragmatic considerations are emphasized around streamlining current HR processes. Arguments for moral legitimacy are considered far less, while narratives on cognitive legitimacy are absent. The findings also show high levels of conformity around legitimation strategies within the community, with only some evidence of selection and manipulation strategies. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for the adoption and diffusion of blockchain in the HR sector.