Blockchain in Big Four accounting firms : an explorative study of the discursive institutional work of Big Four accounting firms in blockchain

Abstract: Purpose - This thesis aims to explore the discursive institutional work conducted by Big Four accounting firms in front of the emergent of blockchain technology which might bring a disruptive influence not only to audit industry but also to their clients in all sectors. Design/methodology/approach - This thesis builds upon a qualitative case study of the Big Four accounting firms. The lens of institutional work is applied when analyzing what, when, how and why professionals in accounting firms take actions to create, maintain and disrupt institutions and interact with others. Findings - the current study finds that accounting firms react differently in different phases from 2016 till 2011 and how they hype and dehype the blockchain by their discursive institutional work in the meantime. Furthermore, the current study recognizes the regulative pressure along with the broad implication of blockchain might also be an opportunity to get multiple actors or agents such as developers, professionals and regulators to cooperate together, however, professionals in accounting firms still need to mobilize the role of regulators due to their lack of coercive power. Originality/value - This thesis contributes to the emerging literature on blockchain's impact on the professionals in audit industry, rather than paying attention to advantages and disadvantages of blockchain technology implicated in audit process, the current study answers the call to bring the professionals as agents back to the institutional study, analyzing the broad impact of blockchain technology at organizational level.