Paper Number
ICIS2025-1307
Paper Type
Short
Abstract
This study investigates the determinants of delegation outcomes in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) through the lens of stewardship theory. We propose that delegate candidates exhibiting intrinsic motivation and organizational commitment are perceived as stewards, thereby increasing their likelihood of being chosen as delegates. Employing a multi-method approach, we conducted a survey to gauge DAO participants’ opinions and an empirical study that analyzed a large dataset encompassing over 66,000 delegate candidates from seven prominent DAOs, spanning from March 2020 to October 2023. Our findings indicate that intrinsic motivation, affective commitment, and normative commitment significantly enhance delegation outcomes. Furthermore, the degree of decentralization within a DAO amplifies these effects. This study advances the fields of blockchain governance, delegation, and stewardship theory by elucidating factors that contribute to effective delegate selection in DAOs
Recommended Citation
Ma, Yiting; Hu, Daning; Li, Mengxiang; and Dong, John Qi, "Actions Over Tokens: Exploring Delegation in DAOs Through the Lens of Stewardship" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 1.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/blockchain/blockchain/1
Actions Over Tokens: Exploring Delegation in DAOs Through the Lens of Stewardship
This study investigates the determinants of delegation outcomes in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) through the lens of stewardship theory. We propose that delegate candidates exhibiting intrinsic motivation and organizational commitment are perceived as stewards, thereby increasing their likelihood of being chosen as delegates. Employing a multi-method approach, we conducted a survey to gauge DAO participants’ opinions and an empirical study that analyzed a large dataset encompassing over 66,000 delegate candidates from seven prominent DAOs, spanning from March 2020 to October 2023. Our findings indicate that intrinsic motivation, affective commitment, and normative commitment significantly enhance delegation outcomes. Furthermore, the degree of decentralization within a DAO amplifies these effects. This study advances the fields of blockchain governance, delegation, and stewardship theory by elucidating factors that contribute to effective delegate selection in DAOs
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10-Blockchain