Challenges and opportunities for blockchain technology adoption : a systematic review

Blockchain technology promises to significantly impact current business processes in industries from various sectors and reduce transactional cost. Firms, suppliers, government, financial institutions etc. are anticipating a business model transformation through blockchain by accomplishing a decentralized architecture of interorganizational dealings without intermediaries. In spite of its immense potential, however, there are key challenges of blockchain implementation which need to be studied for identifying the opportunities arising and for its successful implementations in future. In this paper, we aim to identify these challenges for blockchain adoption and classify them for clearer understanding. To pursue this effectively, this paper follows a hybrid model of systematic literature review. This paper also explicitly enumerates future research opportunities to lead industry and researchers in correct direction

Challenges and opportunities for Blockchain Technology adoption: A systematic review

Blockchain technology promises to significantly impact current business processes in industries from various sectors and reduce transactional cost. Firms, suppliers, government, financial institutions etc. are anticipating a business model transformation through blockchain by accomplishing a decentralized architecture of interorganizational dealings without intermediaries. In spite of its immense potential, however, there are key challenges of blockchain implementation which need to be studied for identifying the opportunities arising and for its successful implementations in future. In this paper, we aim to identify these challenges for blockchain adoption and classify them for clearer understanding. To pursue this effectively, this paper follows a hybrid model of systematic literature review. This paper also explicitly enumerates future research opportunities to lead industry and researchers in correct directions

Blockchain Adoption Framework Using Innovation Translation Approach - The preliminary study

Given the rapid move of organisations towards blockchain adoption, this paper focuses on the niche area associated with blockchain technology adoption. Literature is scarce around the explorative view of the blockchain adoption process and a need to identify the interplay of human and non-human elements at several points that influence the actions and ultimately the decision to adopt a blockchain application. This study investigates the blockchain adoption process from an explorative view and determines yet uncovered aspects to be considered before and while adopting blockchain. For this purpose, the study employed an Innovation Translation approach informed by Actor-Network Theory to identify the interactions among actors at each moment of blockchain adoption. The results of the study are crucial for blockchain literature as it fills gaps of empirically investigated, explorative and dynamic insight into the process and assists potential adopters in realising the interactions required before and during successful adoption process

The Role of Actors in Blockchain Adoption Decisions – An Innovation Translation Perspective

An overview of challenges around blockchain adoption has revealed that there is little understanding of the process of blockchain adoption decisions, including who needs to be involved and consulted at various stages. When systems are designed to intentionally protect privacy or to obscure actors, such as blockchain platforms, it can be challenging to identify them and to understand their roles. To do this we used an Innovation Translation approach from Actor-Network Theory (Latour, 2007) which looks at the roles of both human and non-human actors. To understand the interactions among the actors involved, multiple rounds of interviews were conducted with Blockchain experts, utilising the qualitative Delphi method. The findings of this study propose a framework that provides insight into the decision-process by exploring the actors involved and their roles as they implement strategies to adopt blockchain and to convince other actors. The outcomes will assist blockchain practitioners and researchers to have an understanding of pre-adoption decisions and stakeholder involvement. Organisations considering implementing blockchain will benefit from this research as they will know where to start, who to engage, and which stakeholders are needed during the decision-making process

Understanding Blockchain Adoption from an Institutional Theory perspective

Literature suggests various perspectives of the role of blockchain technology (BCT) in organizations, such as, techno-centric, humancentric, and technology institutionalization. This paper aims to look the adoption of blockchain, through the lens of institutionalization perspective based on the Institutional Theory. The literature argues that institutional theory pressures are only sufficient for innovation if it is seen as a solution where imitation can be followed. However, if there is no consensus on innovation adoption, it becomes difficult to understand the organizational economic and technical needs. Therefore, it is important to understand institutionalization of novel technologies like blockchain, which have yet to have enough examples to follow. The study proposes a framework based on data gathered via semi-structured interviews of blockchain experts using the Delphi method. The framework extends the institutional theory by introducing a technological pressure along with its three conventional pressures

Clinico-bacteriological profile of neonatal septicemia in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Neonatal septicemia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Surviving neonates can have significant neurologic sequelae, septic shock or hypoxemia. The spectrum of bacteria that cause neonatal septicemia varies in different parts of the world. The management of these infections is being complicated by the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the etiology, clinical characteristics and outcome of neonatal septicemia cases. Materials and Methods: During a 1-year study, 257 clinically suspected cases of neonatal sepsis were enrolled and classified as early onset septicemia (EOS) and late onset septicemia (LOS) based on appearance of signs and symptoms, i.e. within or after 72 h, respectively. Blood culture was performed using BACTEC 9240, isolates were identified by standard techniques and antibiotic susceptibility was performed as per the CLSI guidelines. Risk factors associated with neonatal sepsis were recorded and analyzed with respect to culture-proven sepsis. Results: In both suspected and culture-proven sepsis cases, majority of the neonates were male, pre-term and low birth weight babies. The prevalence of EOS and LOS was 82.4% and 17.5%, respectively. Culture positivity was seen in 7.8% of the cases. In culture-proven septicemia, 55% neonates presented with EOS and 45% presented with LOS. Gram positive isolates were more as compared with Gram negative isolates. The most common isolates were S. aureus, S. epidermidis and E. coli. All Gram positive isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid, while carbapenems and polymyxin B were the most effective drugs in the Gram negative isolates. Mortality was higher in LOS as compared with EOS cases, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Gram positive pathogens were predominant in septicemia. Vancomycin and linezolid were the most effective antibiotics for Gram positive isolates and carbapenems for most effective Gram negative organisms