Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Shahinaz Kamal Ezzat, Yasmine N. M. Saleh, Ayman A. Abdel-Hamid
Summary: This paper conducts a comprehensive literature review on blockchain interoperability, with a focus on blockchain Oracles as the state-of-the-art technology. The strengths and weaknesses of different blockchain interoperability techniques are compared, and the shortcomings of these techniques in comparison to Oracles are identified. Additionally, the paper addresses the lack of focus on the latest market solutions adopting blockchain Oracles, and fills this gap by assessing the recent solutions in-depth.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Valeri Natanelov, Shoufeng Cao, Marcus Foth, Uwe Dulleck
Summary: This paper explores and demonstrates the potential of blockchain and smart contracts for supply chain finance in the context of cross-border beef supply chains from Australia to China. The study uses the Agents Events Data (AED) process mapping method to improve supply chain processes and traditional SCF models. The findings highlight how blockchain technology and smart contracts can mitigate financial risks and transform credit financing. Additionally, the paper proposes the group buying business model as a promising approach for whole-of-supply-chain finance and showcases the utility of the AED process mapping method for future research.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION INTEGRATION
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Ivan Popchev, Irina Radeva, Lyubka Doukovska
Summary: Blockchain oracles serve as intermediaries connecting external non-deterministic information and real-world data to blockchain infrastructure. This paper focuses on integrating oracles into an EOSIO blockchain-based platform for smart crop production data exchange. It presents the functions of two oracles and describes their integration at both the design and implementation levels.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Renita M. Murimi, Grace Guiling Wang
Summary: This research develops a trust commoditization model for determining the amount of trust to be placed in oracles in blockchain environments, taking into account oracle selfishness. It also introduces elastic incentives for increasing trust to determine the optimum network size. Key consequences and challenges of incorporating oracles in trusted distributed ledger environments are discussed in the paper.
JOURNAL OF DATABASE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Weisheng Lu, Xiao Li, Fan Xue, Rui Zhao, Liupengfei Wu, Anthony G. O. Yeh
Summary: This study introduces a framework utilizing smart construction objects as blockchain oracles, successfully developing and validating a blockchain-enabled construction supply chain management system, with a specific focus on the operation of four smart contracts.
AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Shanmukha Makani, Rachitha Pittala, Eitaa Alsayed, Moayad Aloqaily, Yaser Jararweh
Summary: This article discusses the concept of smart cities and the application of blockchain technology in smart cities. The decentralized, transparent, democratic, secure, and immutable nature of blockchain technology provides smart cities with more reliable, transparent, secure, and democratized services and applications. The article also explores the various domains in which blockchain technology can be applied in smart cities.
CLUSTER COMPUTING-THE JOURNAL OF NETWORKS SOFTWARE TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Yinjie Zhao, Xin Kang, Tieyan Li, Cheng-Kang Chu, Haiguang Wang
Summary: With the rapid development of blockchain technology, DeFi oracles have gained significant attention in the field of finance. This paper provides a comprehensive study on DeFi oracles, including their application scenarios, past development, and a comparison of popular DeFi oracles currently in use. The paper also proposes potential techniques and metrics for building trustworthy future oracles.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Nikunjkumar Sureshbhai Patel, Pronaya Bhattacharya, Shivani Bharatbhai Patel, Sudeep Tanwar, Neeraj Kumar, Houbing Song
Summary: This article proposes a BC-envisioned IoT-enabled PSC scheme, SaNkhyA, which ensures fairness and privacy in transactions through the elimination of dishonest miners, consensus protocol, and random bit-stream splitters, demonstrating good performance in simulations.
IEEE INTERNET OF THINGS JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Khaled Almi'Ani, Young Choon Lee, Tawfiq Alrawashdeh, Amirmohammad Pasdar
Summary: The usage of blockchain technology has been significantly expanded with the introduction of smart contracts and blockchain oracles. However, the validity and accuracy of off-chain data provided by oracles can be questionable, compromising the transparency and immutability of blockchain. In this paper, a graph-based profiling method is proposed to determine the trustworthiness of blockchain oracles by constructing a graph with oracles as nodes and cumulative average discrepancies of data as edge weights. The evaluation study conducted on the Ethereum network demonstrates an accuracy of around 93% in identifying trustworthy data sources.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Wattana Viriyasitavat, Danupol Hoonsopon, Zhuming Bi
Summary: Blockchain technology has been successfully used in various applications for international asset transfers and domestic payments, leading to a paradigm shift in the payment industry with more liquidated and automated payment processes. While BCT tends to replace conventional payment methods in supply chain, some payment conditions, such as arrears, remain unresolved. A new architecture based on smart contracts has been proposed to improve payment flexibility, with significant theoretical and practical significance in allowing enterprises to fully utilize future resources.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION INTEGRATION
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Salam Abdallah, Nishara Nizamuddin
Summary: In this paper, a blockchain-based framework for the online sale of pharmaceutical products is proposed. It eliminates intermediaries such as hospitals or pharmacies and utilizes Ethereum smart contracts to monitor interactions, track transactions, and ensure secure payment dispersal. The smart contracts also regulate the interaction between sellers and consumers, monitor IoT container status, and provide full notification to consumers. Special cases such as consumer refunds are handled to ensure the safe delivery of medicines.
COMPUTERS & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Business
Sharfuddin Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik, Simonov Kusi-Sarpong, Himanshu Gupta, Syed Imran Zaman, Mobashar Mubarik
Summary: The emergence of blockchain technologies is transforming the management of traditional supply chains by enhancing traceability, accountability, and sustainability. However, the direct impact of blockchain technologies on supply chain sustainability is not significant, with the improvement in sustainability being largely attributed to supply chain integration and mapping facilitated by blockchain.
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Business
Shu Guo, Xuting Sun, Hugo K. S. Lam
Summary: This article studies the information disclosure games over the environmental efforts in fashion supply chains and discusses how the application of blockchain technology influences these games.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Samant Saurabh, Kushankur Dey
Summary: The emerging Information and Communication Technology is crucial in electronic agriculture, improving efficiency and quality management of the agri-food supply chain. Adoption factors of blockchain integrated ICTs can influence supply chain actors' decision processes, and potential drivers can be identified through conjoint analysis, helping rationalize a design for supply chain integration and sustainability.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Management
Yao Cui, Vishal Gaur, Jingchen Liu
Summary: Companies investing in blockchain technology to enhance supply chain transparency face challenges in collaborations and information sharing. This paper analyzes two ways that blockchain can improve supply chain transparency and explores when and how it should be adopted. The study finds that blockchain increases supply chain profit only when the manufacturer's capacity is large.
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Business
Francesca Ricciardi, Alessandro Zardini, Wojciech Czakon, Cecilia Rossignoli, Sascha Kraus
Summary: Cooperation and competition can coexist and even enable each other. Researchers address this paradox by developing a three-dimensional model and testing it on the success of 217 firms.
EUROPEAN MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Public Administration
Sara Moggi, Alessandro Zardini, Gina Rossi, Chiara Leardini
Summary: A sound governance allows local stakeholders to be represented on boards and participate in decision-making, enabling nonprofits to better meet the needs of the community. The study found that high involvement of community representatives, a board rooted in the territory, and the nonprofit seen as a legitimate community representative are necessary conditions for achieving high levels of substantive representation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
(2022)
Article
Business
Ludovico Bullini Orlandi, Alessandro Zardini, Cecilia Rossignoli, Francesca Ricciardi
Summary: The study found that, globally, the lack of high social media penetration, combined with high levels of functional literacy and a positive attitude towards science, can help increase vaccine coverage rates to the recommended level.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Giulio Caldarelli
Summary: Blockchains are blind to the real world and rely on third-party oracles for external data. The implementation of oracles is controversial and brings back issues of trust and single points of failure. Blockchains also lack interoperability, preventing the flow of liquidity between different chains. Wrapped tokens are one solution to achieve interoperability, but their issuance involves considerations of trust and third-party involvement.
Article
Management
Chiara Civera, Cecilia Casalegno, Jerome Couturier, Alessandro Zardini, Alessio Ishizaka
Summary: Scholars in the field of global talent management are calling for the establishment of unique HR architecture and systems to manage local talent. This study adopts the stakeholder theory perspective and identifies five characteristics that facilitate the effective discovery and nurturing of local talent. Through a fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 20 training projects, the study demonstrates that an effective talent management strategy in emerging markets should consider local key suppliers and contractors as part of the organization.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Business
Alessandro Zardini, Lamin B. B. Ceesay, Cecilia Rossignoli, Raj Mahto
Summary: This paper explores the antecedents enabling the organization of diverse entrepreneurs to engage in a collaborative inter-firm business network project. The results show that organizing for inter-firm engagement positively influences network relational performance and entrepreneurs' innovation capabilities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Business
Alessia Zoppelletto, Ludovico Bullini Orlandi, Alessandro Zardini, Cecilia Rossignoli, Sascha Kraus
Summary: Digital transformation at the micro level involves changes in roles, skills, leadership styles, and managerial approaches within organizations. Therefore, understanding individual attitudes and behaviors that drive digital transformation is crucial. This study examines digital transformation at the micro level by conducting a multiple-case study of 38 Italian firms, including seven large firms and 31 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing for cross-case analysis. Findings suggest that approaches differ for managers in SMEs and large firms, with large firms employing a conductor approach and SMEs adopting a peer-tutor approach characterized by bottom-up, informal, persuasive, and empathic methods.
JOURNAL OF BUSINESS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Business
Canio Forliano, Ludovico Bullini Orlandi, Alessandro Zardini, Cecilia Rossignoli
Summary: Grounded in dynamic capabilities theory, this study examines the impact of firms' technological orientation (TO) on their resilience to the Covid-19 pandemic (RTC), taking into account the mediating role of their digital strategy maturity (MDS). The study surveyed 186 firms operating in Germany and Italy and used covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) and bootstrapped regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The results suggest that TO positively affects MDS, leading to higher RTC, while the relationship between TO and RTC is not significant. The study contributes to the knowledge of dynamic capabilities theory and emphasizes the importance of developing a mature digital strategy for organizational resilience in the face of disruptive changes.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Management
Ian Kirkpatrick, Alessandro Zardini, Gianluca Veronesi
Summary: Public management reforms have resulted in re-stratification of professions and the emergence of administrative elites. We examine this phenomenon in English publicly owned hospitals and find that the social status hierarchy of medicine has adapted to management demands. However, the establishment of a management criterion for seniority is only evident under certain conditions, supporting the status position of elite doctors.
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Management
Damiano Cortese, Chiara Civera, Cecilia Casalegno, Alessandro Zardini
Summary: This research aims to identify the characteristics that make an ecosystem a facilitator for transformative social innovation in developing and emerging countries. The study finds that stakeholder empowerment, cooperative strategic posturing, knowledge transfer, and local knowledge exchange are necessary conditions for creating local autonomy, which is crucial for transformative social innovation. The research proposes a shift from a firm-centric perspective to a participatory relational perspective, advancing fresh thinking on stakeholder and knowledge management applied to social innovation in developing and emerging contexts. Practical suggestions to address stakeholder power imbalances are also provided.
REVIEW OF MANAGERIAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Business
Sascha Kraus, Katharina Vonmetz, Ludovico Bullini Orlandi, Alessandro Zardini, Cecilia Rossignoli
Summary: Innovation is important for economic growth, and the role of disruptive innovation in promoting growth is highly regarded. This study examines the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and digitalization strategy on firms' ability to develop disruptive innovation. Based on survey data from 242 firms, the results show that EO has a significant positive effect on disruptive innovation. However, highly entrepreneurially oriented firms perceive a digitalization strategy as a metaphorical cage for disruptive innovation. On the other hand, a digitalization strategy supports disruptive innovation when firms have lower entrepreneurial orientation. The findings suggest that firms should focus on EO to enable disruptive innovation and adjust digitalization strategy based on the level of EO.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Business
Cecilia Casalegno, Chiara Civera, Damiano Cortese, Alessandro Zardini
Summary: This paper investigates the resilience of public services during turbulent times, such as COVID-19, and identifies enabling factors for developing resilient approaches. The research uses fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis on 19 resilient Italian public services and tests for effective configurations of enabling factors derived from a literature review. The results demonstrate the importance of human-based and continuous learning processes in addressing the inherent flaws in public services during crises.
JOURNAL OF INNOVATION & KNOWLEDGE
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Giulio Caldarelli
Summary: Before alternative blockchains like Ethereum emerged, Bitcoin held the future of decentralization. Early developers aimed to decentralize traditionally centralized applications using Bitcoin's potential, but faced challenges with unsuitable non-trustless oracles. This paper retraces the birth of oracles on Bitcoin by interviewing early developers and examining early forums and repositories, discussing the evolution of protocols and encountered difficulties. It also analyzes technical and social barriers to building oracles on Bitcoin and the transition to Ethereum.
Article
Business
Nicola Cobelli, Fabio Cassia, Alessandro Zardini, Volker G. Kuppelwieser
Summary: This study explores the factors influencing pharmacists' adoption intention of telemedicine. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model, the study combines it with the self-determination theory and the social identity theory. The findings reveal that performance expectancy has the strongest impact on adoption intention, followed by effort expectation and social influence, although to a lesser degree.
JOURNAL OF RETAILING AND CONSUMER SERVICES
(2024)
Review
Computer Science, Information Systems
Giulio Caldarelli
Summary: This article introduces the research status and development direction of blockchain oracles, and highlights the institutions and authors that are actively contributing through literature analysis. The results indicate that although global collaboration is still lacking, many authors and institutions are conducting research in similar directions.