The award-winning paper entitled “Beyond Trial and Error: Strategic Assessment of Decentralized Identity in US Healthcare” was authored by:

• Sophia Göppinger (University of St.Gallen, St.Gallen)
• Alexander Meier (University of St.Gallen, St.Gallen)
• Edona Elshan (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
• Omid Malekan (Columbia Business School)
• Jan Marco Leimeister (University of St.Gallen, St.Gallen)

The paper addresses a critical issue of the US healthcare system – the challenges of ensuring a trustworthy and effective exchange of data. The research initially started as a master's thesis by Sophia Göppinger, a graduate of the Strategy and International Management (SIM) programme at the University of St. Gallen, and evolved into a collaborative effort involving an international team of researchers.

The U.S. healthcare system suffers from inefficiencies due to conflicts of interest, incentives, and a lack of authentic data. Decentralized identity (ID) offers a solution by ensuring data authenticity and integrity. To enhance IS deployment success, the research team developed a framework through a participatory action research study to evaluate healthcare use cases for decentralized ID suitability. This evidence-based, theory-informed framework serves as a decision-support tool for healthcare organizations, aiding in the selection of appropriate use cases and the planning of corresponding initiatives.

The international recognition at the ICIS underscores the exceptional research quality and collaborative spirit fostered at IWI-HSG. Winning the “Best Overall ICIS 2024 Paper (in Honor of TP Liang)” reflects the importance of tackling real-world challenges through interdisciplinary and applied research.

Read the full paper:Beyond Trial and Error: Strategic Assessment of Decentralized Identity in US Healthcare