Blockchain Technology and Automated Project Governance: A Systematic Review of Governance Mechanisms, Enabling Conditions, and Future Research Directions

This study synthesizes peer-reviewed literature to examine how blockchain technology supports Automated Project Governance (APG), focusing on the organizational, institutional, and human conditions under which potential governance contribution is realized. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, yielding twenty-one empirically and conceptually grounded studies. Screening reliability was strengthened through independent dual screening at the full-text eligibility stage (inter-rater κ = 0.81). Seven blockchain-enabled governance mechanisms are synthesized and comparatively assessed in terms of evidentiary support and research maturity, suggesting that blockchain’s decentralized and immutable architecture may support transparency, accountability, and coordination when embedded within appropriate governance arrangements, but these benefits do not arise automatically from technological adoption. The synthesis further identifies enabling conditions, including stakeholder acceptance, organizational governance readiness, and institutional alignment, and maps explicit research gaps for each mechanism to guide future empirical inquiry. By grounding the synthesis in the Technology Acceptance Model and Institutional Theory, the study provides a literature-derived, socio-technical framework for understanding blockchain adoption in APG and offers governance-oriented insights for organizations and policymakers.