Exploring Human Resource Managers' Perspectives on Blockchain Technology Adoption in the Automobile Industry: An Indian Study

ABSTRACT This study presents human resource (HR) managers’ perceptions of blockchain adoption in India's automobile industry. An exploratory mixed‐method design consisting of qualitative and quantitative study was employed, involving 110 semi‐structured interviews with HR managers and their responses were used. Data collection and analysis followed a three‐phase design and thematic analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke's six‐step framework with support from NVivo 12. To enhance reliability, two coders independently reviewed 25% of transcripts, achieving 87% intercoder agreement; saturation was reached by the 98th interview. The study uses the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution approach to prioritise the perceived benefits and challenges to the adoption of blockchain technology. Findings highlight blockchain's potential for data security, recruitment, compliance and transparency, alongside challenges of technical complexity, cost, regulatory uncertainty and limited skills. Based on these insights, a conceptual framework and architectural model are proposed for blockchain‐enabled HR processes. This study provides one of the first large‐scale, nationwide, HR‐focused qualitative and quantitative mappings of blockchain adoption in India, contributing to debates on digital adoption, supply chain resilience and organisational change.