Blockchain: Technical Feasibility for Assessing Organizational Fit

It is a multifaceted technology receiving widespread attention with many companies searching for opportunities while others still scramble to understand what it is and how it can support their business model. The current research evaluates the technical feasibility of blockchain applications in relation to the organization fit within a company. A model composed of environmental and organizational factors as they influence organizational fit dimensions is proposed to create a guide for companies to assess whether blockchain is a suitable solution for their company

Conceptualising Social Bots for Countering Online Extremist Messages

Online extremism and radicalisation on social media (SM) are significant concerns of governments, SM companies, and society. The 2021 attack on the US Capitol illustrates the severity of extremism fulled through SM communications. The literature suggests the removal of extremist messages from SM to limit online extremism. However, scholars argue that these interventions are ineffective in containing the threat of extremist messages on SM. This study draws on dual-process theory and reactance theory to conceptualize the factors that contribute to limiting online extremism. Our model proposes cognitive factors and socio-technical factors that impact how SM users respond to online extremist messages. The model is tested with an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based automated software agents (bots). The research contributes to a novel understanding of bots as social bots that are programmed as interventions to extremism

The Interaction of Virtual Reality, Blockchain, and 5G New Radio: Disrupting Business and Society

The three cutting-edge technologies virtual reality, blockchain, and 5G have increasingly attracted public attention. While virtual reality became a popular concept in the 1990s, recent technological advances and decreased costs have created a resurgence in the technology. With significant funding and early adoption, blockchain and 5G have begun to make their mark on the world. Each technology alone may disrupt business and society, but, together, they provide multiple opportunities. In this paper, we summarize a 2018 Association for Information Systems Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) panel session with IS researchers and industry practitioners that tackled important topics related to these technologies. In particular, the panel made the case for IS research that focuses on topics that emerge when these technologies intersect. Each panelist presented their perspectives based on their experience and knowledge along with current issues and future directions. This topic has significant business implications as practitioners continue to note their advancements and develop strategies to adapt in a rapidly changing environment. The topic also has implications for future research as these technologies continue to become more prevalent

Dynamic Matrix of Extremisms and Terrorism (DMET): A Continuum Approach Towards Identifying Different Degrees of Extremisms

We propose to extend the current binary understanding of terrorism (versus non-terrorism) with a Dynamic Matrix of Extremisms and Terrorism (DMET). DMET considers the whole ecosystem of content and actors that can contribute to a continuum of extremism (e.g., right-wing, left-wing, religious, separatist, single-issue). It organizes levels of extremisms by varying degrees of ideological engagement and the presence of violence identified (e.g., partisan, fringe, violent extremism, terrorism) based on cognitive and behavioral cues and group dynamics. DMET is globally applicable due to its comprehensive conceptualization of the levels of extremisms. It is also dynamic, enabling iterative mapping with the region- and time-specific classifications of extremist actors. Once global actors recognize DMET types and their distinct characteristics, they can comprehensively analyze the profiles of extremist actors (e.g., individuals, groups, movements), track these respective actors and their activities (e.g., social media content) over time, and launch targeted counter activities (e.g. de-platforming, content moderation, or redirects to targeted CVE narratives).Comment: 39 page

A Blockchain-Based Approach Towards Overcoming Financial Fraud in Public Sector Services

In financial markets it is common for companies and individuals to invest into foreign companies. To avoid the double taxation of investors on dividend payment - both in the country where the profit is generated as well as the country of residence - most governments have entered into bilateral double taxation treaties, whereby investors can claim a tax refund in the country where the profit is generated. Due to easily forgeable documents and insufficient international exchange of information between tax authorities, investors illegitimately apply for these tax returns causing an estimated damage of 1.8 billion USD, for example, in Denmark alone. This paper assesses the potential of a blockchain database to provide a feasible solution for overcoming this problem against the backdrop of recent advances in the public sector and the unique set of blockchain capacities. Towards this end, we develop and evaluate a blockchain-based prototype system aimed at eliminating this type of tax fraud and increasing transparency regarding the flow of dividends. While the prototype is based on the specific context of the Danish tax authority, we discuss how it can be generalized for tracking international and interorganizational transactions

Preparing construction supply chains for blockchain technology:An investigation of its potential and future directions

Blockchain, a peer-to-peer, controlled, distributed database structure, has the potential to profoundly affect current business transactions in the construction industry through smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, and reliable asset tracking. The construction industry is often criticized for being slow in embracing emerging technologies and not effectively diffusing them through its supply chains. Often, the extensive fragmentation, traditional procurement structures, destructive competition, lack of collaboration and transparency, low-profit margins, and human resources are shown as the main culprits for this. As blockchain technology makes its presence felt strongly in many other industries like finance and banking, this study investigates the preparation of construction supply chains for blockchain technology through an explorative analysis. Empirical data for the study were collected through semistructured interviews with 17 subject experts. Alongside presenting a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis (SWOT), the study exhibits the requirements for and steps toward a construction supply structure facilitated by blockchain technology

CULTURAL FEASIBILITY AS A MODERATOR OF BLOCKCHAIN ACCEPTANCE IN ACADEMIA

The salient features of blockchain technology, such as transparency, immutability, availability of a historical log, and programmability, have led to the emergence of numerous innovative use cases across industries, many of which are still in a development and testing stage. Feasibility of a new project is important to determining the potential success, but for a technology like blockchain many companies must extend their feasibility analysis to include an evaluation of significant cultural changes. Complete processes and ways of operating are likely to change due to increased transparency and open nature of blockchain. In this regard, academia is no exception. Blockchain has been suggested as a remedy for numerous problems of the academic submission and review process and several projects have been launched to create more effective and efficient publication systems. To evaluate cultural feasibility, this research-in-progress paper presents the concept of ResearchChain, an ideal publishing system that comprises all the features requested by academia, and systematically list as well as critically assess useful features that blockchain can potentially enable. Furthermore, we introduce cultural feasibility as an important moderator for acceptance in the academic community and briefly present our future research strategy