Trust Enhancement in Zakat Institutions using Blockchain Technology: A Qualitative Approach

There is an indication that zakat institutions are inefficient and lack transparency in terms of distributing and managing their funds. This leads to a lack of trust between Muzakee and zakat institutions; hence, they prefer to pay zakat to Mustahiq directly. This means that zakat institutions may be collecting far less in zakat funds than the maximum amount that is potentially available. Meanwhile, the invention of blockchain technology has disrupted the financial sector as it offers transparency in transactions, meaning intermediaries are no longer needed. The use of blockchain in zakat management is important for improving transparency in the distribution of zakat. The objective of this paper is to explore the determinant factors that influence trust in zakat institutions using blockchain technology as a mediating effect. The results of the literature review revealed that these factors are reputation, satisfaction with zakat distribution, service quality and disclosure practice. This study expects that trust in zakat institutions can be enhanced through the use of blockchain technology

Problematising transparency through LARP And deliberation

Information technology is increasingly designed to increase information transparency as a way to increase trust. However, it can be hard to comprehend and anticipate the social implications of information visibility, people's competing expectations of transparency versus privacy, and the role of enabling technologies. We devised Live Action Role Play (LARP) as a means for people to explore the potential and consequences of transparency, within a social context of daily transactions related to food, fashion, and finance. Through the process of deliberation, we enabled participants to critically assess their co-created LARP experience and articulate their transparency expectations for design considerations. We report on insights into their expectations and perceived limitations of information technology in delivering transparency, including social measures required to realise the full potential of technology, as well as transparency, while minimising unintended consequences

Cultural transparency in a virtual work environment

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine cultural transparency and engagement in workplaces where a majority of employees work virtually. The study was conducted with Cisco Systems, a high-technology company based in Silicon Valley, California, using an online survey and phone interviews to assess the organization’s level of cultural transparency and the factors that create an open and engaging environment. Trust was found to be a key denominator in fostering transparency and employee engagement. Virtual tools, such as instant messaging, WebEx, and telepresence, foster cultural transparency and can be powerful supports for the creation and maintenance of trust, accountability, and communication among leaders and employees. While e presence, leadership presence, social presence, and knowledge presence can be powerful attractors for trust, accountability, and communication, employees also highly valued engagement factors not aligned with transparency, such as employee growth, work/life balance, and collaboration. Engaging employees requires careful design of the workplace environment so that it reflects open communication, leadership presence, e presence, social presence, and knowledge presence. The results of the study indicate the importance of purposefully training new virtual leaders and hiring leaders who demonstrate key competencies that are valued in a transparent virtual work environment. Leaders play a significant role in creating and sustaining a culture of transparency and engagement. Leaders are encouraged to evaluate the level of trust and transparency in their organizations and consider what interventions may be most appropriate for enhancing trust and transparency in their organizations

Trust, Privacy and Transparency with Blockhain Technology in Logistics

Since the introduction of blockchain over a decade ago, many industries and industrial sectors are exploring the potentials of the technology. In line with the trend, logistics sector is not an exception and is investigation various dynamics associated with the implementation of the technology. This study focuses on the linking between the capabilities of blockchain technology and trust, privacy and transparency. In order to explore dynamics of the linkage, the study used case study as a method for the inquiry. These have been common issues in logistics which the existing information solutions are unable in resolving to a greater extent.. The results shows that blockchain technology has the capability to build trust among unknown industry players while maintaining a sufficient level of privacy and transparency at the same time. Overall, the study presents useful insights by contributing to the major issues in logistics and supply chain when an innovative digital technology is put into action

Belief in public efficacy, trust and attitudes to modern genetic science

The official published version can be accessed from the links below - Copyright @ 2007 Wiley-BlackwellGovernment and policymakers want to engage the public in a dialogue about the conduct and consequences of science and increasingly seek to actively involve citizens in decision-making processes. Implicit in this thinking is that greater transparency and public inclusion will help dispel fears associated with new scientific advancements, foster greater public trust in those accountable, and ultimately increase the acceptability of new technologies. Less understood, however, are public perceptions about such high-level involvement in science and how these map onto public trust and attitudes within a diverse population. This article uses the concept of public efficacy—the extent to which people believe that the public might be able to affect the course of decision making—to explore differences in trust, attentiveness, and attitudes toward modern genetic science. Using nationally representative data from the 2003 British Social Attitudes Survey, we begin by examining the characteristics of those who have a positive belief about public involvement in this area of scientific inquiry. We then focus on how this belief maps on to indicators of public trust in key stakeholder groups, including the government and genetic scientists. Finally, we consider the relationship between public efficacy and trust and attitudes toward different applications of genetic technology. Our findings run contrary to assumptions that public involvement in science will foster greater trust and lead to a climate of greater acceptance for genetic technology. A belief in public efficacy does not uniformly equate with more trusting attitudes toward stakeholders but is associated with less trust in government rules. Whereas trust is positively correlated with more permissive attitudes about technologies such as cloning and gene therapy, people who believe in high-level public involvement are less likely to think that these technologies should be allowed than those who do not.The support of the Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) is acknowledged. The work arises from the ESRC Attitudes to Genomics project L145251005

Blockchain Technology and Its Applications

Blockchain technology enables all stakeholders in higher education to improve trust and transparency. As electronic portfolios evolve from information repositories to robust tools for showcasing student learning, the next generation of assessment tools, measuring program quality and student learning outcomes, will be built using Blockchain technology. The presentation discusses the state of the art in Blockchain technology and its applications, focusing on applications in higher education

Trust, transparency and disintermediation: an analysis of blockchain implementation in the supply-chain

Blockchain represents the backbone of cryptocurrencies, their underlying technology. It can be seen as a large database shared by a peer-to-peer network of users, which collectively validates the information that is recorded on it. Not residing on a single central server, it overcomes a centralized logic, the one used by the best-known web applications like Amazon, Google or Facebook. Instead, DApps (DApp being the acronym of Decentralised Application) are distributed, decentralized applications specifically designed to run on blockchain systems. Blockchain does not involve intermediaries or trusted third parties and its main feature lies in its ability to increase transparency and traceability in transactions. A recent resolution of the European Parliament called for measures to increase the adoption of public and private blockchains, particularly in supply chain management, stating that they can have an indirect effect both at a social and economic level. Several studies have already analysed the potential of blockchain in the agri-food sector, but also in the production and distribution chain of luxury goods or other consumer goods. The existing literature focuses mainly on the role of blockchain in improving the processes related to safety and efficiency of the supply chain, yet it does not seem to problematize the concept of transparency. Despite this, the relationship between transparency and trust, which is generally confirmed by literature, is far from linear. Following an introduction of the technical characteristics of blockchain technology and its possible implementation, we address the way in which blockchain affects the issues of disintermediation, such as in the public sector, where the role of blockchain is still being defined. We also focus on the way blockchain shifts the centre of gravity of trust from an institutional, central entity, either towards the periphery or towards a technological system. Comparing the constructs of trust and transparency, we question the a priori desirability of transparency. In fact, the relationship between trust and transparency becomes rather complex in organizational communication processes. A spotlight is also placed on the aspects that affect the relationship between an organization implementing the blockchain and its relevant stakeholders, along with their different needs. We argue that blockchain still leaves a need for a relationship of trust, as much as the achievement of a trust-free model is pursued. Finally, we mention some of the major critical issues of blockchain, which are still to be resolved

The Acceptance of the Application of Blockchain Technology in the Supply Chain Process of the Thai Automotive Industry

Blockchain technology is an optional new technologies to manage the supply chain process. This technology helps to improve and solve the issue of transparency as well as monitor operations in the supply chain. The study found that the perceived benefits of Blockchain technology in the automotive industry, inter-organizational trust are the important factors that affect the acceptance of Blockchain in the supply chain process. Inter-organizational relationship has negative impact on Blockchain technology acceptance. The non-mediated power is a key factor that builds inter-organizational trust and leads to success in the technology application in this industry. The results can be used as a guideline for the automotive industry to apply Blockchain technologies to the operations

Blockchain Adoption Gains. Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Transparency in the Coffee Sector

Treballs Finals del Màster en Oficial en Empresa Internacional / International Business, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2021-2022. Tutor: Jonathan Calleja-BlancoModern day consumers increasingly value and demand transparency and traceability in their purchased products. However, the verifications of (global) value chains’ responsible processes have traditionally been left to trust. Blockchain holds the potential to disrupt entire industries by offering a range of tools to increase and ensure transparency. However, introduced in 2008, it has struggled to gain widespread adoption. Recurrent barriers have been related to fears with its ability to finance itself, once implemented. Aiming to provide empirical evidence on the increased earnings that this technology could provide to companies, this study analyses the willingness to pay of consumers for the verifiable transparency that blockchain technologies could provide. Using Logit and ordinary least squares (OLS) approaches, we find consumers to be concerned with fair production and transparency issues, but still lack full knowledge or trust of blockchain’s advantages and/or its adequate use by coffee industry practitioners