Understanding manager resistance to blockchain systems

Blockchain technology has received much attention in the media and there is an increasing interest amongst organizations within financial services due to the potential benefits. As blockchain-based systems are a nascent technology, the requirements of the technology need to be understood, to allow blockchain systems to be successfully integrated within financial service organizations. There are gaps in academic research in understanding how managers evaluate the value of a blockchain-based system. This study develops a model to explain manager resistance to implementing blockchain-based systems in financial services organizations. This research advances the theoretical understanding of managers’ perspectives on blockchain-based systems and models their resistance to blockchain technology

Beyond oracles – a critical look at real-world blockchains

This thesis intends to provide answers to the following questions: 1) What is the oracle problem, and how do the limitations of oracles affect different real-world applications? 2) What are the characteristics of the portion of the literature that leaves the oracle problem unaddressed? 3) Who are the main contributors to solving the oracle problem, and which issues are they focusing on? 4) How can the oracle problem be overcome in real-world applications? The first chapter aims to answer the first question through a literature review of the most current papers published in the field, bringing clarity to the blockchain oracle problem by discussing its effects in some of the most promising real-world blockchain applications. Thus, the chapter investigates the sectors of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), healthcare, supply chains, academic records, resource management, and law. By comparing the different applications, the review reveals that heterogeneous issues arise depending on the sector. The analysis supports the view that the more trusted a system is, the less the oracle problem has an impact. The second chapter presents the results of a systematic review intended to highlight the state-of-the-art of real-world blockchain applications using the oracle problem as a lens of analysis. Academic papers proposing real-world blockchain applications were reviewed to see if the authors considered the oracle’s role in the applications and related issues. The results found that almost 90% of the inspected literature neglected the role of oracles, thereby proposing incomplete or irreproducible projects. Through a bibliometric analysis, the third chapter sheds light on the institutions and authors that are actively contributing to the literature on oracles and promoting progress and cooperation. The study shows that, although there is still a lack of collaboration worldwide, there are dedicated authors and institutions working toward a similar and beneficial cause. The results also make it clear that most areas of oracle research are poorly addressed, with some remaining untouched. The fourth and last chapter focuses on a case study of a dairy company operating in the northeast region of Italy. The company applied blockchain technology to support the traceability of their products worldwide, and the study investigated the benefits of their innovation from the point of view of sustainability. The study also considers the role of oracle management, as it is a critical aspect of a blockchain-based project. Thus, the relationship between the company, the blockchain oracle, and the supervising authority is discussed, offering insight into how sustainable innovations can positively impact supply chain management. This work as a whole aims to shed light on blockchain oracles as an academic area of research, explaining why the study of oracles should be considered the backbone of blockchain literature development

Industry 4.0 technologies within the logistics sector: the key role of innovative start-ups

The goal of the study is to analyze the 4.0 innovation in the logistics sector. First, it is provided a view of Industry 4.0 technologies, followed by a focus on Logistics 4.0 technologies as theoretical background. Then, through a patent analysis, the study analyzes in details the logistics sector in order to pursue and to demonstrate where is the origin of innovation in the sector

The future of the logistics industry in the European Union : an outlook to 2032 supported by current and upcoming market trends

This work project develops an outlook for the future of the logistics industry in the EU until 2032 and provides strategic recommendations for logistics managers. An analysis of the transactional and contextual environment is conducted based on primary and secondary research to generate future scenarios. The stability of the geopolitical and economic landscape and the density of the technology network are identified as critical uncertainties. Based on that, future scenarios are developed. Strategic short- and long-term options are recommended for different scenarios. Finally, early indicators are developed, helping industry stakeholders to monitor the environment and anticipate which scenario unfolds

Proceedings of the 9th International congress of architectural technology: digitally integrated cities: closing the chasm between social and physical.

Challenges are emerging within the construction industry, causing diversification of roles, workflows and educational transformations. This has resulted in unifying and integrating the built environment on city, country, and global levels due to the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing and big data analytics. Architectural Technology is at the centre of the construction industry where the relationship between these factors creates many interfaces. Academics and Professionals associated with Architectural technology are best positioned to enhance the design, delivery and performance of integrated buildings within cities at large. This congress will be a vehicle to disseminate research, education and practice related to this theme investigating both social as well as physical, technical, operational and strategic effects on Digitally integrated Cities

Towards Our Common Digital Future. Flagship Report.

In the report “Towards Our Common Digital Future”, the WBGU makes it clear that sustainability strategies and concepts need to be fundamentally further developed in the age of digitalization. Only if digital change and the Transformation towards Sustainability are synchronized can we succeed in advancing climate and Earth-system protection and in making social progress in human development. Without formative political action, digital change will further accelerate resource and energy consumption, and exacerbate damage to the environment and the climate. It is therefore an urgent political task to create the conditions needed to place digitalization at the service of sustainable development

Assessing the technologies transforming the logistics Industry in Nelson Mandela Bay

Supply chain disruptions such as those emanating from the current Covid 19 pandemic have made the logistics industry to undergo fast and unprecedented change. In such unpredictable times, innovation and technology adoption has emerged as one of the major trends and key solutions to lead the way for the future of logistics. This is also because a successful and efficient logistics strategy requires the use of technology, as well as the strategic value derived from a firm's capacity. This in turn enables firms to recognise possibilities and challenges resulting from technological advancement in order to attain long-term competitiveness. The industry is implementing these technologies with caution in order to provide faster, cheaper, more dependable and long-term supply. This study sought to investigate whether Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) is keeping up with the current logistics technology trends and systems that are transforming logistics firms in South Africa, the African continent and the rest of the world. To achieve this primary objective, the study also sought to achieve the following sub-objectives, namely: to identify the logistics technologies transforming logistics firms in NMB; to assess the role of logistics technologies affecting logistics firms in NMB. The study also sought to ascertain the challenges of using logistics technologies transforming the logistics firms in NMB; and examine the effect of logistics technology adoption and use on business performance of logistics firms in NMB. The study used an online closed-ended questionnaire distributed via google forms to collect primary data from a sample of 132 respondents across all the logistics firms (which consisted of warehousing, transport and packaging firms) in NMB. The study targeted those respondents involved in the management of the targeted logistics firms. The empirical results show that technology use in logistics firms has advanced a lot to vehicle tracking, packaging, inventory control, and communication systems, as well as robotics among logistics firms in NMB. The results also identified logistics technologies such as the Internet of Things, Robotic Process automation, Digital Supply Chain Twins, Vendor managed system and RFID as some of the major technologies currently transforming the logistics firms in NMB. The study found that many challenges exist with logistics technology adoption, and cited lack of investment towards logistics technology; the fear of iii losing jobs as people get replaced by technology such as machines and robots; high logistics costs as some of the major challenges. More so, the study results reveal that logistics technology adoption and use play a positive and significant role in logistics firms. The study further reports a significant and positive effect of logistics technology adoption and use on business performance of logistics firms. This study concludes that though still at infancy stage, logistics firms in NMB are keeping upbreast with the current logistics technological trends. The study suggests that firms need to speed up the adoption of the needed logistics technologies available to their respective business in order to remain efficient and effective.Thesis (MA) --Faculty of Business and Economic science, 202