Industry 5.0 emphasises human-centric technologies (HCTs) as essential drivers of sustainable and resilient production. However, their specific contributions to Circular Economy (CE) strategies and the associated skill requirements are not well-defined. This paper investigates how HCTs support Circular Economy practices (CEPs) and which skills and competencies are needed for their effective implementation. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science, following established guidelines. The search employed a string that links Industry 5.0, human-centricity, and the 10 R framework of CE. After a multi-stage screening and snowballing process, 41 peer-reviewed contributions published between 2015 and 2025 were selected for analysis through a combination of bibliometric and qualitative content analysis. The review maps the main HCTs, such as AI, digital twin, XR, robotics, blockchain, and IoT, to CEPs and specific 10 R strategies. It identifies seven clusters of skills ranging from analytical and decision-making abilities to human-machine collaboration, CE-specific expertise, and green human resource management practices. A Sankey diagram visualises the primary linkages between technology and strategy. Then, the authors developed a framework (TSC framework) that links skill clusters, CE practices, and enabling technologies and validated it through an illustrative case study. Interpreting the findings through the Resource-Based View, the paper argues that value arises from socio-technical bundles that integrate technologies, circular practices, and human capabilities. The study concludes with implications for policymakers, educators, and practitioners and outlines potential avenues for future research on skills for human-centred circularity.
The rapid advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs) has established autonomous agents as the core vehicles for artificial intelligence applications. However, existing Internet infrastructures, primarily relying on TCP/IP and DNS, are designed for human-centric, host-to-host data transmission, inherently lacking the semantic awareness, dynamic capability discovery, and decentralized trust mechanisms required for autonomous agent interactions. To address these limitations and break the closed ecosystems of single vendors, this paper proposes AONA (Agentic Overlay Network Architecture), a novel overlay network architecture for the Internet of Agents (IoA). We first provide a multi-disciplinary scientific defense for multi-agent collaboration, demonstrating its theoretical necessity over single super-intelligence through the lenses of organizational economics, scaling principles, and the Price of Anarchy. AONA is then structured as a four-layer logical blueprint comprising the Base, Interconnection, Collaboration, and Application layers, which facilitates cross-protocol and cross-platform interoperability without disrupting the underlying physical network. To physically instantiate this blueprint, we design a distributed node infrastructure anchored by Management Root Nodes, Registry Service Nodes, Discovery Service Nodes, and Enterprise Intelligent Service Hubs for private domain integration. Finally, we detail the dynamic operational workflows-including zero-trust identity issuance, globally coordinated semantic taxonomy synchronization, intent-driven semantic discovery, and trusted metering for commercial settlement-that drive the network. This comprehensive architecture provides a robust, scalable, and secure foundation for the future of global agentic collaboration.
Este artigo apresenta um esboço estruturado sobre “Migração de Lógica de Negócio para Layer‑2: Desafios de Compatibilidade.”. O objetivo é analisar os fundamentos técnicos e econômicos relacionados à migração de contratos e aplicações da camada base (L1) para soluções de escalabilidade em Layer‑2, discutindo implicações para o ecossistema Web3 e tendências de mercado. A metodologia baseia‑se em revisão bibliográfica e análise de casos práticos, com foco em diferenças entre soluções L2 EVM‑equivalentes e apenas EVM‑compatíveis, modelos de segurança de bridges, padrões de liquidez multi‑chain e impactos em tooling, UX e governança. Argumenta‑se que a migração não é apenas um “lift‑and‑shift” de bytecode, mas um processo que envolve reavaliação de suposições de segurança, dependências de infraestrutura (oráculos, indexadores, sequencers) e design de incentivos em ambientes com finalização e custos distintos da L1. Casos práticos de migração de protocolos de DeFi e indexação evidenciam trade‑offs entre custo por transação, fragmentação de liquidez e complexidade operacional, bem como a importância de padrões de bridging, mensageria cross‑chain e governança multi‑domínio para manter coerência de lógica e de risco entre instâncias L1/L2. Conclui‑se que migrar lógica de negócio para Layer‑2 exige abordagem incremental e consciente de compatibilidade, com atenção especial à equivalência de EVM, à segurança de rollups e bridges, e à coordenação de liquidez e governança em um ecossistema crescentemente modular e multi‑chain.<br>
This study seeks to fill a gap in the understanding of how blockchain smart contracts may improve logistics service quality and investigate the drivers of blockchain smart contracts.Semistructured interviews were carried out with ten logistics professionals to collect data.According to the findings, the drivers of using blockchain smart contracts in the logistics industry comprised the strongest predictor amongst security, traceability, decentralization, transparency, efficient information sharing, and automation factors.The identified drivers of blockchain smart contracts could be used by logistics practitioners as a "road map" for the development of appropriate solutions to successfully strengthen logistics service quality within the logistics industry.The results indicate that blockchain smart contracts enhance payment transaction security, increase end-to-end visibility, and improve delivery timeliness.Moreover, this technology optimizes routing, advances fleet management, and reduces logistics costs.The existing literature focuses on the approaches to applying theoretical, technical, or operational benefits of blockchain smart contracts, but fails to propose a deep dive into logistics service quality.This research appraises blockchain smart contracts by assessing and suggesting how they can enhance logistics service quality.
The rapid expansion of enterprise-scale data ecosystems and AI-driven services has created an urgent need for autonomous governance mechanisms capable of operating across distributed, dynamic, and heterogeneous environments, where traditional centralized control models increasingly fail to provide the scalability, adaptability, and real-time compliance required by modern enterprises. In response to these limitations, this paper introduces the concept of Multi-Agent Autonomous Governance Networks (MAAGN), a novel architectural paradigm that leverages advances in multi-agent systems (MAS), policy-driven governance, and self-adaptive computing to enable truly self-regulating AI ecosystems. MAAGN is designed to distribute governance responsibilities across intelligent, cooperative agents that operate with contextual awareness, enabling localized decision-making while maintaining global policy alignment. By integrating cognitive agent models capable of perception, reasoning, and learning with layered governance frameworks that enforce regulatory, organizational, and operational constraints, the architecture supports continuous compliance and dynamic policy evolution. Furthermore, the incorporation of enterprise-scale coordination mechanisms such as decentralized consensus protocols, adaptive orchestration layers, and feedback-driven control loops ensures system-wide resilience and fault tolerance even in highly volatile environments. The study synthesizes foundational theories in MAS, contemporary developments in multi-agent reinforcement learning, and emerging governance-aware AI frameworks to propose a scalable, extensible, and future-ready model for enterprise AI control systems, positioning MAAGN as a critical enabler for trustworthy, transparent, and autonomous digital infrastructures.
Dec 23, 2025·Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Oliver Alexy, Oliver Baumann, Ying-Ying Hsieh, Giorgia Sampó
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) represent a radical form of socio-technical systems, where rules are enforced by code and governance is conducted by a distributed network of stakeholders. A critical challenge in designing these systems is achieving consensus without centralized authority, yet how consensus ensures effective governance remains underexplored. This study investigates the design of DAO governance systems, utilizing data from 70 DAOs and applying Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to explore which consensus configurations lead to positive organizational outcomes. Our analysis challenges the notion of a single consensus model. Instead, we uncover 13 distinct configurations that characterize successful DAOs. Our key finding reveals a fundamental “ideation-legitimation trade-off”: successful DAOs optimize for broad participation in either the proposal (ideation) stage or the voting (legitimation) stage, but rarely both. These insights provide a nuanced framework for understanding and designing effective governance systems for DAOs.
Demand volatility, logistical interruptions, and linked worldwide networks define the remarkable complexity of modern supply chains. Classic centralized management solutions find difficulty in offering real-time solutions to changing operational problems. For designing distributed, intelligent, and self-organizing supply chain ecosystems, artificial intelligence agents combined with Model-Control-View (MCV) architectures provide transformational possibilities. These autonomous computational entities span three functional layers: view interfaces enable monitoring and interaction, control mechanisms govern decision-making and optimization, and model components represent digital twins of supply chain entities. Multi-agent coordination enables decentralized yet coherent operations through the negotiation and collaboration of agents representing suppliers, production, logistics, and retail, all of which adhere to standardized protocols. Applications include demand forecasting, intelligent logistics, stock optimization, supplier partnering, and flexible disruption response. While reducing reliance on centralized control systems, the framework enhances resilience, scalability, openness, and operational efficiency. Challenges in implementation include organizational adaptation needs, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and data integration complexity. Future advances in autonomous and cooperative supply chain systems will include explainable artificial intelligence, quantum-enhanced optimization, edge computing powers, and blockchain-enabled trust mechanisms.
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to challenge traditional assumptions of corporate organization, governance, and commerce. While AI is widely recognized as a tool for enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency, an emerging possibility lies in the concept of AI corporations—autonomous economic entities capable of engaging in trade, investment, and contractual relationships without direct human intervention. This paper explores the rise of AI corporations and their potential to redefine global commerce through autonomous economic agents. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical framework, drawing on secondary data, global case studies of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), AI-driven financial institutions, and blockchain-enabled smart contracts. Findings suggest that AI corporations could significantly reduce transaction costs, enable borderless 24/7 trade, and enhance economic efficiency while simultaneously raising profound challenges concerning legal identity, accountability, taxation, and regulatory oversight. Unlike traditional corporations that rely on human managers and shareholders, AI corporations operate on algorithmic autonomy, raising questions about liability, ethical conduct, and governance in the absence of human decision-makers. The implications are both economic and policy-oriented: while the integration of AI corporations could accelerate global trade and investment, unchecked autonomy could lead to monopolistic control, systemic risks, and destabilization of labor markets. The paper argues for the urgent development of international regulatory frameworks, AI-specific corporate laws, and hybrid human–AI governance models to harness the opportunities while mitigating risks. By positioning AI corporations as the next stage in the evolution of commerce—from traditional enterprises to digital platforms and now autonomous entities—this study contributes to the discourse on the future of global business, law, and economic systems.
Abstract Agile fosters speed, autonomy, and innovation at the team level, but organizations often struggle to preserve these strengths as they scale. Coordination overhead increases, decision-making slows, and the agility that once fueled success begins to erode. This paper introduces an approach to scaling by drawing on Robotics Subsumption Architecture , a model originally developed to build adaptive, autonomous robots. Building on the late Mike Beedle ’s pioneering work in applying these robotics principles to organization design , we reimagine how to design systems that grow without sacrificing local autonomy or real-time responsiveness. This approach offers scalable agility by embedding sensing, decision-making, and action into every layer—resulting in organizations that are resilient, decentralized, and capable of surviving today’s VUCA market.
The relevance of this article lies in the existence of over 13,000 decentralized autonomous organizations worldwide, with a total capitalization exceeding 23 billion USD. Numerous projects exploit this form to circumvent regulatory frameworks. At both the international and Ukrainian levels, a coherent understanding of the phenomenon of decentralized autonomous organizations, their objectives, genesis, and legal nature remains absent. The purpose of this article is to explore the genesis and legal nature of decentralized autonomous organizations – from the inception of the technical idea to their transformation into sui generis legal entities. Applying comparative and formal legal methods to examine the development of the legal understanding of these organizations, and employing case study methodology to assess their implementation in practice, the article investigates the main stages of the formation of the modern concept of decentralized autonomous organizations, their differentiation from adjacent constructs – decentralized applications, autonomous agents, and decentralized organizations – by highlighting criteria of autonomy and decentralization, along with case studies from Bitcoin to The DAO. On the basis of a comparative legal analysis of regulatory models in the United States, Europe, and offshore jurisdictions, a conceptual mismatch is identified between classical corporate forms and the ontology of decentralized autonomous organizations. A two-component qualification test is proposed, alongside a typology dividing them into genuine, hybrid, and quasi forms. The findings of the study, together with the identification of practical challenges faced by such projects, substantiate the possibility of recognizing decentralized autonomous organizations as legal persons under Ukrainian law by means of the doctrinal construct of the “personalized purpose” (Zweckvermögen) developed by A. von Brinz, potentially implemented in the form of a foundation. This approach permits the integration of algorithmic will with legal personality without undermining their decentralized nature. The article provides a foundation for further inquiries into specific legal characteristics of decentralized autonomous organizations, including the “sorites paradox” and the prospects for legislative regulation within the Ukrainian legal order based on the doctrine of personalized purpose.
Nidhi Singh, Usama Awan, Sarah Basahel, Rsha Alghafes
This study addresses a gap in the current research by investigating the relationship between BC based financial solutions and SC recoverability and financial resilience. Previous research provides little empirical evidence on how and under what conditions Fintech improves the manufacturing firm's financial resilience. This empirical research draws on the resource base view (RBV) to investigate the role of Fintech as a driver of better relationship transparency and SC production risk management for financial resilience. The data was collected from 295 engineering manufacturers in India. A key contribution of this study is that it provides new insights by highlighting the role of Blockchain Technology (BCT), built on the Ethereum-based system, in strengthening SC recoverability and enhancing relationship transparency. We present a research framework grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) that illustrates how blockchain technology (BCT) can provide firms with critical competencies for developing relationship transparency and managing production risks, thereby enhancing financial resilience in the SC. Relationship transparency, essential for SC recoverability, is pivotal in establishing the link between BCT and SC recoverability. Our findings advise SC managers that relationship transparency improves SC recoverability and may be an important source of financial resilience.
Distributed ledger technologies (DLT) have been piloted in enterprises to improve transparency and trust relationships among multiple partners but have not managed to mature as planned. Even though most implementation projects demonstrate various opportunities for the involved partners, enterprises experience difficulties in assessing the technology’s impact on profitability in order to make valid investment decisions and improve productivity. This paper employs the dynamic capabilities theory to explore how enterprises can adapt and leverage DLT for improved profitability. It presents an applicable profitability assessment model and a collection of quantitative profitability factors of DLT in enterprise networks. The framework and its associated models are developed through an inductive Grounded Theory-based approach, composed of literature reviews and qualitative empirical studies from 40 participating mixed-industry blockchain, tangle, and hashgraph experts. To retrieve profitability factors in a structured manner, the framework features an integration model covering necessary assessment steps; a taxonomy and heat map characterizing the maturity and assessment situation of the DLT; as well as an assessment model to identify and monetize profitability factors.
Blockchain technology establishes trust among participants through technical means. However, some malicious nodes may compromise this trust through short-range reorganization attacks for their interest. This paper develops an agent-based model to systematically analyze Proof-of-Stake short-range reorganization attacks, where three types of agents interact through distributed consensus mechanisms with ex-ante, fine-grained, and ex-post reorganization attack strategies. Through rigorous simulation of agent decision-making dynamics, we identify that: (1) Compared with ex-ante reorganization, the ratio of malicious nodes required for ex-post reorganization is much larger. (2) Increasing the node number increases the difficulty of ex-ante and ex-post reorganization. (3) The number of nodes affects ex-post reorganization attacks more significantly than ex-ante attacks. (4) Fine-grained reorganization significantly reduces attack difficulty
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are a type of Decentralized Applications (DApps) that utilize smart contracts to support governance processes. To achieve a high degree of utility of the system, stakeholders need to identify a suitable organizational structure in the early stages of design. While Model-Driven Development (MDD) methods are established for DApp and smart contract design, they lack specialization for modeling the organizational structures of DAOs. To address this gap, we propose a modeling language and a method which support crucial DAO design and development phases. The method is evaluated through an in vivo case study. Unlike existing solutions, comprehensive stepwise guidance is provided by our method for both technical and non-technical stakeholders involved in DAO development from the initial stages of the project.
This paper explores the role of the agile approach in managing interorganizational relationships in innovation networks. Design/methodology/approach. Relevant literature related to agile team management, network theory, innovation theory and knowledge management was studied. Based on collaboration between different approaches, a conceptual model for agile management of an innovation network was generated. Conceptual modeling was supplemented with graphical notation (diagram) of the main elements of the model. At the stage of testing the conceptual model, the action research method was applied, which provides an opportunity for organizational innovations to be carried out with the participation of researchers. The object of the pilot implementation of the conceptual model is the Bulgarian division of a global non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to community service. The organizational innovation applied in the testing of the model is related to improving the communication environment between individual teams (clubs), which are autonomous, but in the conditions of a network can generate projects for common, large-scale initiatives for community service. Findings. The pilot testing of the model shows its applicability, insofar as a traditionally managed structure switches to an agile communication model, in which horizontal connections become more frequent and knowledge between individual participants is transferred more efficiently. The possibility of decentralized decision-making creates the potential for generating numerous new and larger-scale initiatives for the benefit of the final beneficiaries. The participants in the network have also outlined some shortcomings, such as the need for better preliminary preparation when introducing organizational innovations in order to adequately explain and accept them.
Jan 1, 2025·Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Misalignment between individual preferences and organizational decisions can lead to demotivation, absence, and turnover. This is particularly challenging for decentralized organizations that rely on management tools based on hierarchical authority to limit these negative effects of misalignment. We theorize that (decentralized) organizations can use decision-making structures to moderate the negative impact of misalignment. Using a dataset of 140 decentralized autonomous organizations, we find that implementing weighted decision-making structures, where members can express preference intensity, significantly alleviates this negative impact. Likewise, quadratic decision-making structures, which limits the influence of members with high voting power, reduces the adverse effects of misalignment.
In recent years, the integration of blockchain technology into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices has gained significant attention due to its potential to address transparency, accountability, and sustainability challenges in business operations.Blockchain, with its decentralized nature, offers a secure and immutable platform that allows organizations to track, verify, and share data related to their CSR initiatives in real time.This level of transparency enhances trust among stakeholders and provides a reliable way to demonstrate a commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.Blockchain technology is emerging as a transformative tool for enhancing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices, offering innovative solutions to foster transparency, accountability, and sustainability.By providing a decentralized, immutable ledger, blockchain ensures that CSR-related activities are traceable, verifiable, and free from manipulation, thereby building trust among stakeholders and mitigating issues such as fraud and resource misallocation.This study explores the potential of blockchain technology to transform Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices, focusing on its role in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability.Blockchain's decentralized and immutable ledger enables organizations to track and verify transactions, enhancing trust among stakeholders and ensuring ethical business practices.The study identifies key blockchain innovations such as smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and energy-efficient consensus mechanisms that contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).However, the adoption of blockchain in CSR initiatives faces challenges including regulatory uncertainty, integration complexities, scalability issues, and privacy concerns.To overcome these barriers, the research offers strategic recommendations, such as the adoption of energy-efficient blockchain solutions, the integration of smart contracts, and enhanced stakeholder education.This paper contributes to understanding how blockchain can be leveraged to create a sustainable and efficient CSR ecosystem, aligning business operations with global sustainability objectives.
K. S. Chandrasekaran, V. Mahalakshmi, M. R. Anantha Padmanaban
Over the past ten years, blockchain technology has significantly captured interest in various application fields. Originally devised for the Bitcoin peer-to-peer cryptocurrency network, extensive research now explores integrating blockchain with various other service domains. The technology is celebrated for its decentralized structure, robust security, immutability, and transparency. In blockchain systems, consensus algorithms play a crucial role in establishing unanimous agreement among participants within a distributed computing environment, facilitating the addition of new blocks to the blockchain network. The effectiveness and security of the network largely hinge on the performance of these consensus algorithms. However, existing consensus algorithms face challenges with throughput, latency, and communication complexity. To address these issues, an enhanced consensus algorithm known as Intuitive Random Selection based Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFTIRS) is introduced. This algorithm optimizes the consensus process by selecting a subset of nodes, thereby reducing network complexity and enhancing efficiency without sacrificing security. To tackle scalability issues in blockchains, a hierarchical BFTIRS algorithm that incorporates sharding is developed. This approach segments network participants into local and global consensus groups, each conducting the consensus process independently. Performance evaluations of this algorithm show improvements in both efficiency and security over existing solutions.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), based on block-chain systems such as Ethereum, are emerging governance protocols that enable decentralized community management without a central authority. For instance, UniswapDAO allows members to vote on policy changes for the Uniswap exchange. However, DAOs face challenges regarding scalability, governance, and compliance. Hybrid-DAOs, which combine the decentralized nature of DAOs with traditional legal frameworks, provide solutions to these issues. This research explores various aspects of DAOs, including their voting mechanisms, which, while ensuring fairness, are susceptible to Sybil attacks, where a user can create multiple accounts to exploit the system. Hybrid-DAOs offer robust solutions to these attacks, enabling more equitable voting methods. Moreover, decentralization can be understood through four properties: anonymity, transparency, accountability, and fairness, each with distinct implications for DAOs. Lastly, this work discusses legal challenges Hybrid-DAOs face and their promising applications across sectors such as nonprofit management, corporate governance, and startup funding. Overall, we argue that Hybrid-DAOs are the future of DAOs: the additional legal structure enhances the feasibility of many applications, and they offer innovative solutions to technical problems that plague DAOs.
Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are not a novel social phenomenon; rather, they draw inspiration from self-organizing systems and are often regarded as digital counterparts of cooperatives (Co-ops), wherein members fully own and govern the organization. The advancement of digital solutions for decentralization, such as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), along with the emergence of the third generation of websites (Web3) and platforms, has propelled DAOs to a new echelon. As such, DAOs represent the next generation of organizations, aptly referred to as Organization 5.0 in the context of Society 5.0. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary trajectory of decentralized autonomous organizations and their classification. The advent of Ethereum in 2015 enabled the realization of DAOs, with "The DAO" being the first large-scale example established in 2016 as a decentralized venture fund within the Ethereum ecosystem. Over time, DAOs have expanded their scope beyond fundraising and have evolved to serve various purposes. To provide a comprehensive context, the paper presents background information on the evolution of blockchain applications and discusses ethical considerations related to DAOs. In order to identify the most common categories of DAOs, this paper consults various DAO explorers and include, for each identified category, a descriptive example of a DAO. Finally, the paper concludes by offering an outlook on the future of DAOs.
This teaching case describes, based on publicly available material, the transition of the A. P. Moller Maersk shipping company from a logistics-based organization to an information and technology-based organization. Multiple digital technologies, including distributed ledger, robotic automation, digital platforms, and big-data analytics offered opportunities for Maersk. Although the company was a relatively late starter in digital transformation, its journey so far has been successful. The challenge is how to enact sustained digital transformation in an environment of rapid technology change. Some theoretical lenses are offered to assist with analyzing and framing Maersk’s digital strategy, including business models, organizational ambidexterity, and dynamic capabilities.